The company behind the UK’s ‘electric highway’ and sole provider of electric car chargers at motorway service stations has announced it’s going to start charging a fee for charging your electric car.
Ecotricity has revealed that it plans to roll out a £5 fee for a 20 minute charge at its 300 fast-charging stations across the country.
A 20 minute charge in our Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV long-term test car will fill the battery by around 50%. At most, that provides enough power for around 15 miles of electric-only driving. Without charging, the same distance will cost around £2 in petrol.
In an email sent out to its users, Ecotricity said: “When we began in July 2011, there was a bit of a chicken and egg situation – people were reluctant to buy electric cars because there were no charging facilities being built, but nobody wanted to build those facilities while there were still so few cars on the road. That’s when we jumped in to help kickstart the electric car revolution in Britain.
“And that’s going pretty well: today there are over 40 models to choose from and 64,000 plug-ins on the road. The Electric Highway itself comprises almost 300 electricity pumps – of the fast charging variety.”
The move renders it almost pointless to charge plug-in hybrid vehicles at motorway service stations – a significant change as more manufacturers introduce plug-in hybrid cars. Hyundai launched its new Ioniq this week – with a plug-in hybrid version set to follow next year.
Drivers of electric cars, which rely solely on being charged regularly, may have no choice but to pay the £5 fee to complete long journeys. They will still be able to charge at home and at public (non-Ecotricity) chargers, and Tesla drivers will continue to use the company’s supercharger network at no cost.
A 24kWh Nissan Leaf will be able to cover roughly 75 miles from a £5 20 minute Ecotricity charge. In a petrol-powered car, that would equate roughly to 75.0mpg, meaning EV drivers will generally continue to be better off than those driving petrol or diesel cars. This doesn’t take into consideration purchase or battery lease costs, however.
It comes as figures released today by the Department for Transport reveal that 45% of drivers are put off buying an electric car due to concerns over charging.
Ecotricity added: “The combination of more cars on the road and faster charging means we’re now delivering two million miles of clean driving each month – all powered from the wind and sun. That’s a great result. It’s also a growing cost. And to keep pace with demand, we need to build more electricity pumps – at existing and new locations.
“So the time has come for us to charge – for charging. We’ve taken a lot of feedback from EV drivers in order to arrive at the right pricing model. We’ve decided that a simple flat fee of a fiver for a 20 minute fast charge strikes the right balance.”
EV drivers who wish to continue to use the Ecotricity stations will have to download the company’s mobile app, which will show available chargers and allow them to pay online.
The ‘pay-for’ system is being rolled out across the network from Monday 11 July, and is expected to be completed by Friday 5 August.
Update: 11.07.16
Speaking on Radio 4’s You and Yours, Ecotricity boss Dale Vince said: “Following reaction from our customers, over the weekend Ecotricity has decided to provide a 30 minute charge for £6. This is following feedback from drivers of plug-in hybrids who say they can get a full charge in half an hour.”
Charging for charging: reaction
We contacted Mitsubishi Motors UK managing director Lance Bradley for his thoughts on the change. He responded that he was ‘disappointed’.
@MR_AndrewBrady@Editorial_MR Disappointing. Not sure why a supplier would appear to want to put customers off charging.
And he’s not the only one. A number of Twitter users are frustrated by the announcement, with some even considering cancelling their electric car orders.
Typical. Just about to get an electric car and ecotricity are basically introducing fees the moment I’ll get it. Tempted to cancel car now.
High-performance Porsche specialist RUF has opened its first official sales outlet in the UK, in association with Kent-based brokerage thecarspy.net.
Part of RUF’s expanding international network, founder Estonia Ruf says entry into the UK market comes at an important time “because our range of cars is now the strongest it has ever been”.
> RUF Automobile UK
RUF has been tuning Porsches for four decades now, building an envied reputation for its super-fast models that has helped it expand internationally into the USA, Canada, Singapore, Japan, China, Thailand, Taiwan and Chile.
Now the UK is the next overseas market to gain official recognition and will now sell the full range of RUF Porsches (of which every one is capable of more than 200mph), plus custom bespoke-build classic models of which the firm has an even broader choice.
The RUF Porsche 2016 new car model range comprises:
RUF RtR (it has 802 hp: because RUF thinks the regular Porsche 911 Turbo is too slow)
RUF RGT (RUF’s extreme 525hp non-turbo 911 is for those who think the GT3 RS is too subtle)
RUF Turbo Florio (the 645hp hyper-power turbocharged Targa)
RUF 3800S (RUF’s take on the Porsche Boxster and Cayman, compete with 420hp)
Mark Sekula is the new co-director of RUF Automobile UK, after being friends with the Ruf family for many years.
“Knowing what RUF is capable of producing, we are very excited to be a part of the expanding international presence. The UK has tremendous potential for RUF cars and it will be our task to establish a sound base for both pre and post-sales support for customers in this country.
“We feel that now is the perfect time for us to satisfy the needs of the high-performance and luxury sector based on our own current market experience here in the UK.”
In the 1990s, due to regulations and increased performance, Porsche made the move – an unfavorable one by many Porsche aficionados – to go from air-cooled to water-cooled engines on all 911s.
Now, due to similar circumstances, Porsche’s standard engines are, once again, entering a new era as they will all be turbocharged; first the 911, and now the 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman.
But turbocharging is nothing new to Porsche as it has been playing with the force induction devices since the early 70s. Porsche’s inaugural venture in turbocharging began with its motorsports program.
In order to challenge the dominating McLarens of the Can-Am, Porsche engineers were pushed to adapting a turbo to its Type 912 engines used in its 917 racecars.
From the track to the road
Turbos elevated Porsche’s motorsports program and company chairman, Ernst Fuhrman, believed they could also enhance the performance of the production cars. The 911 Turbo – the first production turbocharged Porsche – was introduced as a prototype in 1973 before officially launching in 1975.
The 911 Turbo
Iconic 930 body – with ‘shark-fin’ fender covers and large ‘whale-tale – on the outside. 3.0-liter turbocharged flat-six on the inside. The first 911 Turbo, for the time, impressively produced 260 hp. Five-hundred models were initially to be produced, but due to immense demand over 1,000 ended up being sold.
Expanding turbocharger utility
Porsche’s entry-level model, the 924, was in need of a variant which could bridge the gap between a base 924 and base 911. To fill the vacancy Porsche took inspiration from the 911 Turbo and added a turbocharged 2.0-liter I4 to the front-engine sports car.
Entry-level turbo Porsche
Introduced as a 1978 model, the 924 Turbo produced 170-horsepower – 10-horsepower off of the 911 SC – and featured a NACA duct in the hood and air intakes in the nose to help distinguish the base 924 from the Turbo. In its short production run the 924 Turbo say minimal changes before its end.
Upgraded 911 Turbo
In 1978 the 911 Turbo’s engine’s displacement increased from 3.0-liters to 3.3-liters, giving the car a 40-horsepower jump over the last. Unfortunately for the U.S. in 1979 the 911 Turbo would no longer be available due to an energy crisis, and would not return until 1986.
New front-engine turbo
Before the 911 Turbo returned to the U.S. the 924’s replace, the 944, arrived with a turbo variant. The turbo produced 217-horsepower and had a recorded 0-60mph time of 5.9 seconds.
Advanced 944 Turbo
In 1988 a 944 Turbo S was revealed. Improved suspension, clutch, transmission, rear-end, and engine and clutch combination, helped make the Turbo S the fastest production four-cylinder car of its time. With 247-horsepower and 258ft-lb of torque, the Turbo S could go from 0-60mph in 5.5 seconds.
Superior supercar
While the 911 Turbo returned to the U.S., something much more menacing and paramount was leaving Stuttgart at the same time – the Porsche 959. Powered by a bi-turbo flat-six, the 444-horsepower all-wheel-drive super-Porsche could reach 195mph, making it the world’s fastest street-legal production car for its time.
Next generation 911 Turbo
Not until 1990 would the second generation 964 911 Turbo be released. It retained the same 3.3-liter flat-six from the last generation, but retuned to 320-horsepower. A Turbo S variant was released in 1992 with improved suspension and a power increase to 376-horsepower.
Improving the 964
In 1993 Porsche replaced the 3.3-liter engine with a new 3.6-liter flat-six pushing 360-horsepower with the Turbo variant. Only 1,500 3.6-liter Turbo 964s were produced, making it almost as sought after as the 959.
New 911 features
When the 993 generation of the 911 Turbo was revealed in 1995 it was equipped with two never-before-seen features on a 911 – twin turbos and an all-wheel-drive system. The twin-turbo 3.6-liter flat-six produced a whopping 402-horsepower, and combined with the new aerodynamic body the 993 Turbo launched from 0-60mph in a blistering 3.8 seconds. The Turbo S even faster with 424-horsepower.
The apotheosis of the 993 911
The GT2 name presents a sense of nobility. And when placed next to another dignity name, 911, everything you need to know about the car is represented in six characters. Bestowed with 430-horsepower – 450-horsepower on the upgraded edition – widened plastic fenders, larger rear spoiler with air scoops in the struts, six-speed transmission and rear-wheel-drive, the GT2 was truly a street-legal 911 racecar.
First water-cooled 911 Turbo
Diehard air-cooled 911 fans were thrown a curve ball with the launch of the new water-cooled 996 model 911. But the 911’s new feature in no way hindered the Turbo model’s performance. Its 3.6-liter flat-six is derived from the 1998 Le Mans winning GT-1 car and produced 415-horsepower at 6,000rpm.
996 generation GT2
Despite how enthusiasts felt about water-cooled 911s, there was no denying the pertinence of a 911 GT2. And the 996 GT2 did not disappoint. Two large turbochargers assisted the 3.6-liter flat-six in producing 476-horsepower, and according to reports of the time, the GT2 hardly suffered any dreaded turbo lag.
Turbocharged SUV
Porsche entered uncharted territory in 2002 with the development of a SUV. But in typical Porsche fashion, the Cayenne had superb handling and a line of strong motors – including a turbocharged 4.8-liter V8 – and quickly became the company’s best-selling vehicle. The Cayenne has a Turbo and Turbo S variant with the current Turbo S producing 560-horsepower.
Growing line-up
Porsche continued to grow its lineup with the Panamera – a full-sized luxury sedan. Like the Cayenne, a Turbo and Turbo S variant of the Panamera was made available with a turbocharged 4.8-liter V8. The current Panamera Turbo S is the most power mass production Porsche producing 570-horsepower.
997 generation turbos
While it was no surprise to see new turbo editions with the launch of the 997 generation 911, what was new was the first time use of BorgWarner VTG turbos. The new turbos cut lag and increased power with the 911 Turbo producing 473-horsepower and the mighty GT2 producing 523-horsepower.
997 generation two
For the 2008-09 model years of the 997 911 there were a few updates including revised suspension, PDK 7-speed transmission option, slightly altered front fascia and a couple other minor details. This didn’t have a major effect on the Turbo variants, but there was the addition of a new Turbo S and a staggering 612-horsepower twin-turbo GT2 RS.
Crossover endeavor
Porsche continued to work on increasing its audience by jumping on the crossover bandwagon with the launch of the Macan in 2014. There is a Turbo variant of the Macan, but a unique feature of the Macan is all of its engine options include a turbo. The base Macan and diesel models house a single turbo while S, GTS and Turbo models house twin-turbos.
991 generation 911
With the new 991 generation 911 came the end of the 3.6-liter flat-six. Now all Turbo models would be powered by a twin-turbo 3.8-liter flat-six. The Turbo now produced 513-horsepower, while the Turbo S produced 552-horsepower.
The 911 blows into another new era
Mid-generation updates usually include minor revisions, but this time the facelifted 991.2 sees all Carrera models sporting a 3.0-liter turbocharged engine. Aside from GT models, no longer can you go to a Porsche dealer and purchase a new naturally aspirated 911.
991.2 Turbo models
The Turbo and Turbo S models will still exist and will be the most powerful editions. Both all-wheel-drive with a twin-turbo 3.8-liter flat-six, but the Turbo will produce 540-horsepower with an estimated 0-60 time of 2.9 seconds, while the Turbo S will produce an incredible 580-horsepower with an estimated 0-60 time of 2.8 seconds.
Increasing its turbo line-up
New emission regulations are pushing manufacturers to adapted turbocharging technology to their lineups, and for Porsche this doesn’t stop with the 911. As of 2016, the Boxster and Cayman, now named 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman, have been given the turbocharged treatment coming standard with a turbocharged flat-four.
Boost or bust?
Now, Porsche’s entire line-up is turbocharged. The exceptions will be super-raw road-going racers such as the 911 GT3 RS. Like it or not, if you’re a fan of Porsches, you now need to be a fan of turbochargers. Not all the die-hard enthusiasts are happy, but such is the march of progress. Besides, as we’ve now seen, Porsche’s history with the turbo goes back decades. If anyone can lay claim to being an authentic turbo car maker, it’s Porsche…
Aston Martin and Red Bull Racing have revealed the stunning new AM-RB 001, the radical hypercar developed by the two brands and led by star F1 genius Adrian Newey, Aston Martin designer Marek Reichman and engineering ace David King. The new Aston Martin Red Bull could just be the F1 car for the road to outdo every other car ever created…
‘The like of which has never been seen before’
Aston Martin and Red Bull say the AM-RB 001 (that’s currently a codename: the real name will follow) is ground-breaking, ambitious, uncompromising and wholly extraordinary. Red Bull has won multiple F1 titles and Adrian Newey has won many, many more on top: by collaborating with Aston Martin, he’s now able to turn his brilliance to road cars. The rest of the supercar world is shuffling uncomfortably…
What is the Aston Martin Red Bull AM-RB 001?
The new Aston Martin Red Bull hypercar is a proper road-going machine. A maximum 150 will be built, with 25 more track-only super-specials. Purists, rejoice: it will have a mid-mounted non-turbo V12 engine that revs to the heavens and, although a power figure hasn’t been revealed, the AM-RB 001 will have, like the Koenigsegg One:1, a 1:1 power-to-weight ratio – that’s 1 hp per kilo of weight.
Road car with F1-like downforce
Described as having “unprecedented levels of downforce in a road-legal car”, the AM-RB 001 will, as you’d expect of an Adrian Newey-engineered car, further blur the dividing line between road car and racing car. The carbon fibre car’s aero secrets are mainly beneath the surface too, so Reichman’s been able to design a pure body shape without humungous wings and spoilers.
Yes, it really is a road-going Aston Martin
Looking truly unique, space-age and 22nd century, the incredible shape of the Aston Martin Red Bull AM-RB 001 makes every other hypercar to date seem old-fashioned and prosaic. It’s more Batmobile than road car, with designer Reichman admitting “there has never been an Aston Martin – or any car, actually – quite like the AM-RB 001”.
‘A truly remarkable project’
Aston Martin CEO Dr Andy Palmer is in no doubt as to the historical significance of the new Aston Martin Red Bull AM-RB 001. “As the project gathers pace it’s clear the end result will be a truly history-making hypercar that sets incredible new benchmarks for packaging, efficiency and performance, an achievement that elevates Aston Martin to the very highest level.
The practical Red Bull F1 car for the road
It pushes performance boundaries endlessly, but Aston Martin and Red Bull insist the AM-RB 001 will also be a perfectly usable, practical and enjoyable road car. Just one that performs on the track like no other road car up to now. The two firms promise a roomy two-seat cabin, plentiful comfort and the sort of packaging brilliance more mundane A-to-B runabouts would be proud of. Newey has a reputation for innovations like this in his F1 cars: the AM-RB 001 will be the first road car ever to benefit from it.
Ingenious suspension, aerodynamics, gearbox
Adrian Newey will also apply his F1 nous – brilliance that’s made him the most successful designer the sport has ever seen – to give the Aston Martin Red Bull innovative new suspension, radical aerodynamics and a clean-sheet transmission that’s been conceived and engineered by the far-sighted Red Bull Advanced Technologies department.
Adrian Newey’s first-ever road car
“I’ve long harboured the desire to design a road car,” says Red Bull’s Adrian Newey. His intention is to create a car of two characters – indeed, he says that’s the secret they’re trying to put into the AM-RB 001: “The technology that allows it to be docile and comfortable, but with immense outright capabilities.” Be in no doubt, the Adrian Newey road car is going to be extraordinary…
The tech nuances: TBC…
Today, Aston Martin and Red Bull are revealing the shape of the new hypercar, whose AM-RB 001 title is currently a codename. All the tech details underpinning it will be revealed in due course: for now, savour the pure and breathtaking dramatic form that blends Aston Martin tradition in a quite incredible futuristic form.
Why has Red Bull partnered with Aston Martin?
So why has Red Bull teamed up with Aston Martin to create its first ever road car? Because Newey reckoned it was the best way to make the project work: Red Bull would do all the clever hypercar engineered with Aston Martin helping it turn this into a beautiful, fast and comfortable GT car.
What next? How much will it cost?
Aston Martin will make the AM-RB 001 at its Gaydon facility, in the same area used to produce the One-77. It will produce between 99 and 150 of the road-going Red Bull, with 25 track-only models on top. First deliveries will start from 2018: the price has not and will not be disclosed, but a guess of around £2 million and £3 million is a safe estimate…
Less than 24 hours after the final episode of the current series of Top Gear, Chris Evans has announced he is leaving the show. The news comes after it was revealed that the final episode attracted just 1.9 million viewers, lower than any episode during the Clarkson era of the popular BBC programme.
In tweet, Evans said:
Stepping down from Top Gear. Gave it my best shot but sometimes that’s not enough. The team are beyond brilliant, I wish them all the best.
It means that Chris Evans has resigned after just six episodes, leaving Top Gear without its main host. That said, over recent weeks, it has become clear that Matt LeBlanc, Chris Harris and Rory Reid are more than capable of stepping into the shoes of Messrs Clarkson, Hammond and May.
A statement from Mark Linsey, BBC Studios director, said: “Chris is stepping down from his duties on Top Gear. He says he gave it his best shot doing everything he could to make the show a success. He firmly believes that the right people remain, on both the production team and presenting team to take the show forward and make it the hit we want it to be.
“The new series has so far notched up over 30m views in the UK alone and has already been sold to 130 territories worldwide.”
In an official statement, Chris Evans said: “I have never worked with a more committed and driven team than the team I have worked with over the last twelve months. I feel like my standing aside is the best thing I can now do to help the cause.
“I remain a huge fan of the show, always have been, always will be. I will continue to focus on my radio show and the allied events that it encompasses.”
These ‘allied events’ include CarFest and Children in Need. In a second tweet, Chris Evans posted:
Full steam ahead then with Radio 2, CarFest, Children In Need, 500 Words and whatever else we can dream up in the future.
Within minutes of Evans posting the tweet, Chris Evans became the top trending topic on Twitter. Meanwhile, you can expect to see former Top Gear presents rolled out for their opinions on the news. Tiff Needell, former racing driver turned TV personality, tweeted:
And all of a sudden the phone is hot with news reporters again … off to studio for BBC News 24 at 5pm!
There’s already speculation surrounding who will replace Chris Evans on Top Gear, although the resignation of Nigel Farage is not said to be linked to now the vacant position.
To celebrate Independence Day (no, not the Will Smith movie), we’ve put together a list of American cars that broke the mould. Automobiles that deserve a virtual high five. As Will Smith might say: we’ve got to get ourselves one of these.
AMC Eagle
Putting this list into some kind of order was proving tricky, so we gave up and opted for a simple A-Z. Which, by default, gives the AMC Eagle top billing. Not that this is an issue, because this was a true pioneer, blazing a trail for a new breed of off-road vehicles. With the notable exception of the Subaru Leone, before the Eagle had landed, 4x4s tended to be lumbering and heavy SUVs. Thanks to its Ferguson Formula (FF) all-wheel drive system, it’s also a distant relative of the Jensen FF.
Buick Riviera
On a shorter list, the Buick Riviera might not have made the cut, but its impact in the US cannot be underestimated. GM’s design chief, Bill Mitchell, is reported to have demanded the style and luxury of a Rolls-Royce with the performance of a Ferrari. The result was one of the most elegant and sought-after V8-engined cars of the 1960s. This wasn’t the first American luxury car, but it’s one of the first to call upon influences from the other side of the Atlantic.
Cadillac Eldorado
Revolutionary? Not really. Game changing? We think not. But as a symbol of the American dream and a hark back to the country’s golden age, few cars can touch the 1953 Cadillac Eldorado. Its follow-up, the 1959 Eldorado, symbolised the era of massive fins, chrome and excess.
Chevrolet Bel Air
Few cars encapsulate the image of 1950s Americana better than the Chevrolet Bel Air. The first generation car of 1950 ushered in a new era of car design and while the Bel Air had many imitators, few managed to capture its magic. Note the design of the hardtop, styled to look like a convertible. The idea wasn’t new, but Chevrolet popularised the concept.
Chevrolet Corvair
The Chevrolet Corvair was the only American mass-produced car to feature a rear-mounted air-cooled engine, which pitched it against the Volkswagen Beetle. But it was this layout, combined with a swing axle rear suspension, that led to wild handling characteristics. A number of single-vehicle accidents led to 100 lawsuits and the publishing of the book: Unsafe at Any Speed. Cutting a long story short, this changed the process of interaction between consumers and manufacturers.
Chevrolet Corvette
A production run spanning seven different decades and global recognition would be enough to earn the Chevrolet Corvette a place in this gallery. But the Vette was also the first sports car to be built in America and the first production car to be built using a fibreglass body. The Corvette name stemmed from a small, manoeuvrable frigate of the 17th century.
Chevrolet Suburban
We offer two reasons for the inclusion of the Chevrolet Suburban. Firstly, it’s the longest running nameplate in the world. Secondly, the first generation car – known as the Suburban Carryall – featured seating for up to eight people. It was therefore an early interpretation of the people carrier recipe.
Chrysler 300 Series
The Chrysler 300 Series of cars are considered to be America’s first performance cars, evolving from the C-300 of 1955, through to the 300B, 300C and beyond. The C-300 was the first American production car to develop 355hp, while the 300B gets the credit as the first car to produce 1hp per cubic inch.
Chrysler Thunderbolt
Though Peugeot had got there first with the first production, electrically-operated retractable hardtop, the Chrysler Thunderbolt of 1941 takes the honour as being the first American version. Other innovations included retractable headlights, doors that opened via buttons and air intakes beneath the front bumper. Even today, the Thunderbolt still manages to look futuristic.
Chrysler Turbine Car
The Chrysler Turbine Car probably has no place in a gallery focused on cars that broke the mould. Had Chrysler got its way, we could have been driving about in jet-powered cars, which sounds exciting and futuristic, even today. As it happened, the project was scrapped, with Chrysler crushing all but a handful of examples. If you haven’t watched it already, check out Jay Leno’s review online. It’s terrific stuff.
Cord 810
The Cord 810 was a stunning, if ultimately expensive, vision of the future. The L-29 was America’s first front-wheel drive car, but the 810 took this forward with a package that included independent front suspension. It also featured concealed headlights, a hidden fuel filler cap and the world’s first horn ring.
Dodge Caravan
To fans of muscle cars and rear-wheel drive legends, the inclusion of the Dodge Caravan might ruffle a few feathers. But in its day, the front-wheel drive Dodge Caravan was a revolutionary package, offering up to seven seats in a space shorter than a full-size station wagon. Chrysler’s minivans set the tone for a new breed of people carriers and – quite literally – changed the shape of American vehicles.
Dodge Viper
The recipe might seem rather primitive, but there’s no doubting the Dodge Viper’s significance. Stripped back to the barest of essentials, the Viper was loaded with an 8.0-litre V10 engine developing 400hp and 465lb ft of torque, helping to propel it to a top speed in excess of 160mph. It was crude, but it was also a relative bargain, putting supercar-taming potential within reach of the everyman.
Duesenberg Model SJ
The Duesenberg Model J was the supercar of the late 20s and 30s, offering a blend of luxury and brutal performance. The Model SJ was in a different league, adding a supercharger to its armoury to offer a top speed of around 140mph. A remarkable achievement, given 100mph was considered otherwordly.
Dymaxion
Buckminster Fuller – great name, not so great car designer. Fuller was an architect who had visions of a future including industrial system-built houses and flying cars. The Dymaxion car was wingless, but was intended to ‘plane’ on two wheels. It was flawed and the prototype was involved in a fatal accident at the 1933 Chicago World Exposition. As the Design Museum says: “the Dymaxion proved for ever that architects should not meddle with automotive design”.
Ford F-Series
The pickup is part of the fabric of America and the Ford F-Series is the most successful of the breed. It’s an institution. A legend. It’s part of the furniture. It can trace its roots back as far as 1948 and is consistently America’s best-selling vehicle.
Ford GT40
The GT40 is a controversial choice. To some Americans, the car’s Lola underpinnings and construction in Slough make it a British car, while the Brits will argue it’s a product of Uncle Henry. Whatever, its success at Le Mans was the equivalent of Henry Ford turning up at Maranello, pressing the doorbell and running away before Enzo Ferrari had managed to reach the door.
Ford Model 18
V8 fans should raise a glass to the 1933 Ford, because this was the first affordable, mass-produced car to be powered by a V8 engine. The Model 18 arrived in 1932 and was replaced by the Model in 1933.
Ford Model T
Launched in 1908, the Model T wasn’t the first car to be built, but it was the vehicle that mobilised an entire nation. For the first time, the automobile was accessible to more than just the upper reaches of society. Furthermore, the Model T was the first mass-produced car built on a moving assembly line.
Ford Mustang
There had been quicker cars, there had been cheaper cars, heck, there had been more beautiful cars. But few cars had made an impact quite like the Ford Mustang. It offered a slice of exotica to the post-war ‘baby boomer’ generation and captured an emergent trend towards optimism and a brighter future. It’s also one of just a handful of cars that are recognised simply by their model name.
Ford Pinto
Arguably one of the most famous cars in American history, but for all the wrong reasons. The Ford Pinto’s tendency to explode in the event of a rear-end collision didn’t exactly help sales, but it thrust it to the front of American newspapers. The most infamous American car in history?
Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner
It was billed as the ‘world’s only hide-away hardtop’ and while retractable roofs were nothing new, the Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner was quite the innovator. Rather than using hydraulics, as was commonplace at the time, the Skyliner used a series of electric motors – three to open the rear deck, one to unlock the top and another to send it into the boot. The rear deck then lowered via a separate servo, with the entire process taking less than a minute.
Ford Taurus
The 1981 Ford Taurus saved the company from bankruptcy, but it didn’t happen by accident. When the project team set out to create the car, they evaluated 400 different characteristics of the best cars in the world, ranging from the feel of the heater control to the appearance under the bonnet. Numerous design features ensured it was one of the most aerodynamic cars in the world.
Ford Thunderbird
Though the Ford Thunderbird had the look of a sports car, it was the first vehicle to be marketed more as a personal luxury car. The T-bird became a social and cultural icon, with a legion of celebrity owners helping to elevate the Ford to a higher plane. Over 4.4 million units were sold before Ford, and not daddy, took the T-bird away in 2005.
GM EV1
Twenty years on, the GM EV1 looks like the right car in the wrong era. It was the first mass-produced and purpose-designed electric car and the first to be produced by a major American carmaker. A range of 100 miles simply wasn’t enough for the majority of Americans, while as a two seater it was hardly family friendly. It was also cripplingly expensive to build, meaning GM was all too quick to crush the majority of EV1s when the leases expired. A groundbreaking failure?
GM LeSabre Concept Car
The 1951 LeSabre Concept Car didn’t so much as break the mould as change it. This was one of the world’s first concept cars, which introduced a number of technical procedures that would become commonplace in automotive design. Indeed, by using precise measurements and data, the LeSabre Concept Car laid the foundations for computer-modelling techniques. The aircraft-inspired design influenced many cars of the 1950s.
Hennessey Venom GT
The Hennessey Venom GT is essentially a Lotus Exige fed on a diet of Red Bull and rocket fuel. It has set a number of unofficial speed records, including an amazing 270mph at the Kennedy Space Record. Unfortunately for the twin-turbocharged V8 Venom, it doesn’t qualify for a Guinness World Record as the speed would have to be recorded over a measured mile in both directions.
Honda Accord
Wait, what, a Honda Accord? While we accept Honda is as Japanese as sushi, the Mk2 Accord will go down in history as the first Japanese car to be built in America, changing the automotive landscape forever. The first Accord rolled off the Marysville production line in 1982.
Hummer H1
Few cars can thank the influence of one outside individual for coming to market. None other than Arnold Schwarzenegger convinced AM General to launch a civilian version of the HumVee, made famous by its role in Operation Desert Storm. The original Hummer was born and production would continue until 2006.
Jeep Wagoneer
Step aside Range Rover, because this was the world’s first luxury SUV. Introduced in 1963, the Jeep Wagoneer offered the biggest cargo area and largest tailgate opening in its class, while passengers reveled in a huge amount of cabin space and a few luxuries. As it evolved, the Wagoneer grew ever more luxurious, spawning a larger Grand Wagoneer, before it made way for the Grand Cherokee.
Oldsmobile Curved Dash
While the Ford Model T was the first affordable mass-produced vehicle, the Oldsmobile Curved Dash of 1901 is credited as being the first mass-produced vehicle of any kind.
Oldsmobile ‘Rocket’ 88
Work started on the Rocket V8 engine back in 1946, with the engine going into production in 1948. The Oldsmobile Rocket 88 shot to fame as the pace car for the 1949 Indianapolis 500, before winning no fewer than six NASCAR races in the same year. It’s credited as being the world’s first muscle car.
Oldsmobile Toronado
The aforementioned Cord was a bit of a false dawn for front-wheel drive, but it would make a reappearance in the Oldsmobile Toronado of 1966. This itself gives it historical significance as the first volume production front-wheel drive car since the 1930s. It went head-to-head with the Ford Thunderbird as one of the first personal luxury cars.
Shelby Cobra
The very first Shelby Cobra is set to go under the hammer at RM Sotheby’s auction in Monterey, California. The auctioneers describe it as “the most important modern American car – period.” Not convinced? RM Sotheby’s claims: “When it comes to American sports cars, CSX 2000 is without peers. Its historical significance and impact on the global sports car scene cannot be overstated.”
1923 Star
For many American children, a family holiday meant piling into a station wagon and hitting the freeway. Face it, nobody does station wagons quite like the Americans. And these big, softly-sprung and occasionally wood-panelled family trucksters can trace their roots all the way back to the 1923 Star – a vehicle large enough to carry passengers and their cargo.
Studebaker Avanti
A genuine case of what might have been. The Studebaker Avanti’s styling was handled by the flamboyant Raymond Loewy and it was America’s first mass-produced fibreglass body, four-seat passenger car. Innovations included a built-in roll cage, padded interior and no front grille, while the shape was delightfully Italian in style. Sadly, production issues led to the demise of the Avanti, with Studebaker following soon after.
Tesla Model S
Is it too early to credit the Tesla Model S as being a car that broke the mould? Perhaps, but there’s no doubting its success, which has spread far beyond the coast of America. Here is an electric car that has the range and practicality to rival a standard car, while developing a near-cult status. It’s not cheap, but it has moved the game on.
Tucker 48
Preston Tucker assembled an all-star cast and the largest factory building in the world to bring the Tucker 48 to market. History will recall that, while the project was ill fated, the Tucker 48 had the potential to be a hugely successful automobile. Not only did it look magnificent, it also featured the likes of a central headlight that swivelled when cornering; disc brakes; a pop-out windscreen; rear engine; and a padded dashboard.
Vector W8
The first American-built supercar, arguably of all time, but certainly of the modern era. Thanks to its carbonfibre body and 650hp V8 engine, the Vector W8 could top 220mph, sprinting to 60mph in four seconds. Sadly, a $400,000 price tag resulted in slow sales, meaning Vector failed to get its W8 beyond second base.
1901 Waverley Electric
Early electric cars (such as the pair pictured here) outsold petrol cars in many parts of America, which suggests we haven’t really moved on at all. The Waverley Electric is, according to James May, a car that changed the world.
Willys MB Jeep
The Willys MB was the first mass-produced off-roader and the forefather of all modern SUVs. It played a significant role in the Second World War and yet its initial design was completed in just 49 days. It also influenced that other off-road icon – the original Land Rover.
What’s stopping you buying an electric car? With ultra-low emission electric and plug-in hybrid car sales booming within the last year, the AA reckons we could be on the verge of a ‘tipping point’ – with half a million expected to be on the roads by 2020.
But many of us are continuing to snub electric and plug-in hybrid cars. Why is that? The AA has teamed up with charging experts Chargemaster to dispel the top five myths surrounding electric car ownership.
1: Electric cars costs too much (82% concerned)
Apparently 82% of those surveyed are put off by the high purchase price of an electric car. They are more expensive than conventional petrol and diesel cars, but savings are available. Government grants slash up to £4,500 off the list price of a new electric car, with the Renault Zoe starting at £13,945 (although battery hire is charged on top of that).
Impressive lease deals are available – and electric cars have been around long enough for them to start cropping up at tempting prices in the classifieds. You can buy a three-year-old Renault Zoe or a more practical Nissan Leaf from around £5,000.
2: Availability of public charging points (81% concerned)
This is a chicken and egg situation – as more of us buy electric cars, more public charging points will pop up. Currently, Chargemaster says 4,000 publicly accessible charge points are available through its scheme – with a further 500 to be added this year. Ecotricity has fast electric chargers at almost every UK motorway service station.
3: Time taken to offset higher purchase price through fuel and taxation savings (68% concerned)
Although we’ve said that electric cars are more expensive to buy than conventionally-fuelled vehicles, you will save some money through their low running costs. But 68% say they don’t think those running costs will offset the higher purchase price quick enough.
Of course, it depends on your personal circumstances, but you might be surprised how much money running an electric car can save. For a start, you won’t pay road tax and company car drivers will save money on benefit in kind (BIK) tax. If you drive into London regularly, you could save a fortune on the congestion charge – and EVs usually get free parking while charging, saving you money if you regularly pay and display.
4: Durability of battery (65% concerned)
Replacing a battery could be a huge cost in electric car ownership, so prospective buyers are right to be concerned about the cell’s lifespan. The AA says that batteries in older EVs are aging better than expected, however, and a number of manufacturers are now offering warranties of around eight years on batteries in new EVs.
5: Limited range (59% concerned)
You can refuel some diesel cars and not have to visit a petrol station for at least 600 miles, while some electric cars have a real-life range as short as 60 miles. But how far do you really need to travel on a charge? National statistics suggests that 95% of car journeys are under 25 miles – and a third of UK households have two or more cars. Using an electric car everyday is a very realistic proposition for most of us, then – just use a second car (or hire one) for that occasional journey to the in-laws.
As battery technology progresses, the realistic range of electric cars are getting longer, and the AA says that it expects 200 miles from a single charge to be the norm within two years. You can already expect a Tesla Model S to cover 250 miles from a charge, while plug-in hybrids are available with a petrol engine as back-up for when you run out of electric juice.
The partnership between AA and Chargemaster brings a number of advantages to members and electric car owners, to help make ownership easier and more appealing. These include discounts on Chargemaster membership, enabling access to its chargers for £7.85 a month, and a programme to install charge points at AA-rated hotels.
Lewis Hamilton has helped Mercedes-AMG reveal a dramatic new 585hp AMG GT R in a dramatic dynamic drive at Mercedes-Benz World Brooklands, UK. The new Mercedes-AMG GT R has had most of its development carried out on the Nürburgring race track to make it one of the most focused high-performance road cars yet built by AMG.
And it even has a paint job to match – a special ‘AMG green hell magno’ green, in tribute to the racetrack Sir Jackie Stewart called ‘green hell’…
Hamilton was in great form at the reveal of the GT R, grabbing the keys from Mercedes-AMG boss Tobias Moers to take it for a quick spin at the famous Brooklands circuit. “I was surprised it was street legal,” he said: the wide body, extra power and bellowing sound all get his vote.
“The improved aerodynamics are cool too – most people don’t notice that.” So, how has Mercedes-AMG created the bright green new GT R that’s so impressed the reigning F1 World Champion? We found out…
The Mercedes-AMG GT R has been created to bring closer links between its road-going supercars and the firm’s motorsport GT3 racers. There’s a thriving AMG GT3 customer-sport racing series and many of these features have been incorporated into the new GT R. It’s a much, much more focused car than any AMG GT up to now.
Pretty much everything involved in performance and dynamics is new. Key features of the Mercedes-AMG GT R include wider front and rear wings to cover wider tyres (325-section at the rear!), bigger rear spoiler and a double diffuser similar to that which was banned in F1 for being too effective. It has adjustable coilover suspension, active rear-wheel steering and lightweight wheels with racy cup tyres – plus a huge number of expensive detail changes throughout. Extensive upgrades indeed…
The GT R’s stance oozes attitude. Carbon fibre front wings are 46mm wider, and they’re 57mm wider at the rear. Tracks are wider and there are 19-inch forged alloys at the front, 20-inch rims at the rear. That big rear wing is also manually adjustable depending on the type of use (or type of racetrack you’re at): just like in motorsport.
All-out speed isn’t really the focus here, even though the engine does boast a serious step-up in power to 585hp (compared to the current GT S’ 510hp). This delivers 0-62mph in 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 197mph.
Oh, and you’re probably aware there’s already a GT-R in the world – the Nissan GT-R. Clearly though, Mercedes-AMG has reached an agreement that means Nissan’s happy with its GT ‘racing’ being called GT R. We’re sure the lack of a hyphen in AMG’s version is key here…
The front end oozes aggression. A 15-fin chrome grille mimics the AMG GT3 racer, while the shape of the grille mimics the famous 1952 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL that won Mexico’s Panamerica race. It’s lower and meaner at the front, feeding extra air to the engine, reducing lift and enhancing aerodynamics.
There are active aerodynamics underneath: at 50mph, a carbon fibre panel lowers 40mm, ‘sucking’ the car to the road, something that adds greater stability and extra feel to the steering. It also helps send more air to the rear double diffuser, clamping down the rear end at speed as well. Don’t worry – it’s mounted on springs, so won’t easily be broken…
A Mercedes-AMG first is active rear-wheel steering. Up to 62mph, they turn in the opposite direction to the fronts, making the GT R more agile. Over this, the turn in the same direction, improving high-speed stability and also making it more responsive at speed.
Mercedes-AMG has given the interior a race-style makeover with weight-saving manually-adjustable bucket seats, yellow-highlight dials and, brilliantly, yellow seatbelts.
The 585hp engine is faster-responding and Mercedes-AMG has fitted a lighter flywheel to further enhance the race-like feel. The ‘race start’ launch control has been sharpened too: it now dials up more starting revs and has better control of wheel slip. Dynamic engine and gearbox mounts are fitted.
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres are standard – rubber that Mercedes-AMG amusingly calls “street-legal racing tyres”. Not only do they have more grip than the regular tyres, they also last 50 per cent longer on a racetrack.
Car tuners love coilover suspension because it’s just like tech from motorsport. It’s fitted to the Mercedes-AMG GT R; it’s fully adjustable and is paired with AMG Ride Control adaptive damping with three settings. Mercedes-AMG suggests ‘comfort’ for the road, ‘sport’ for challenging, undulating racetracks such as the Nürburgring and ‘sport plus’ for flatter, higher-speed circuits such as Germany’s Hockenheim.
You want settings and adjustability? The Mercedes-AMG GT R gives you settings and adjustability – not least a nine-level traction control system, adjusted via a cool yellow twist-dial in the centre console. Choose level 1 for wet weather, up to level 9 for maximum slip. Be Lewis Hamilton om the move, in other words.
The Mercedes-AMG GT R will be a step up from the GT S because “it combines the driving dynamics of our AMG GT3 racing car with the everyday practicality of the AMG GT,” says Mercedes-AMG CEO Tobias Moers. “It’s a new benchmark in performance for street-legal cars.”
The Mercedes-AMG GT R is lighter than other AMG GT models, courtesy of some exotic components. The carbon fibre torque tube, which delivers drive to the rear wheels, weights 14kg, 40 per cent less than standard. There’s less soundproofing, a titanium exhaust silencer, forced alloy wheels and other tweaks. The 15kg overall weight saving over a GT S doesn’t sound huge, but when you consider extra tech such as a stiffer chassis, rear-wheel steering, that larger rear wing, it’s more impressive than it seems.
There’s an interesting nugget in the tech pack for the new Mercedes-AMG GT R: the firm says that incorporating motorsport tech into the AMG GT road car has seen networking between race teams, aerodynamics boffins and designers that has “even resulted in an innovation that now has a patent pending”. Once the patent is granted, we’ll find out what that innovation is, we’re sure…
“Our sports-car and performance brand AMG has its roots in motorsport and, ever since its formation, has repeatedly faced up to the competition on the racetrack. These genes are particularly prevalent in the new AMG GT R. Boasting a wealth of technological innovations, the new top-of-the-range model is proof of the close collaboration between our constructors of racing cars and road-going vehicles,” said Daimler AG board member Prof. Thomas Weber.
Mercedes-AMG GT R launches at Mercedes-Benz World in Brooklands on 24 June – the opening day of the 2016 Goodwood Festival of Speed. It will go on sale on 21 November 2016 and deliveries will begin in March 2017. Prices? To be confirmed, but there will be a serious hike over today’s £110,000 GT S, that’s for sure…
Britain has voted to leave the European Union, a decision that could have a particular impact on the automotive industry: of the 1,682,156 vehicles produced here in 2015, 77.3% were exported and 57.5% went to Europe.
Opinion: should carmakers have done more to prevent a Brexit?
In or Out: European cars we love – and those we’d send back
That equals almost 750,000 cars being exported to the EU: with the average value of an export being £20,900, this means £15.6 billion of trade could be in jeopardy if, once British export plans are confirmed, a swift resolution to trade deals is not found.
Britain’s next-biggest automotive trade partner is the United States, which take just 10.9% of exports: the ramifications are potentially thus serious.
Top export destinations for UK cars
EU: 57.5%
US: 10.9%
China: 7.0%
Turkey: 2.9%
Australia: 2.8%
Russia: 2.0%
Japan: 1.8%
South Korea: 1.7%
Canada: 1.2%
Israel: 1.2%
The short-term impact on British motorists is also potentially costly. The RAC has already predicted fuel prices will rise by 2p a litre due to the fall in the value of sterling, while Glass’s says there will be a slowdown in market activity as people put off big-ticket purchase decisions because of the Brexit uncertainty.
The UK automotive industry employs almost 800,000 people and had turnover of £69.5 billion in 2015. Seven mainstream car manufacturers build vehicles here, as do eight premium and specialist brands. It is one of the UK’s most important industries.
Here, then is how the automotive industry has reacted to the news – and keep coming back to more Motoring Research analysis of what Brexit means for the automotive industry…
SMMT
Chief executive Mike Hawes said: “The British public has chosen a new future out of Europe. Government must now maintain economic stability and secure a deal with the EU which safeguards UK automotive interests.
“This includes securing tariff-free access to European and other global markets, ensuring we can recruit talent from the EU and the rest of the world and making the UK the most competitive place in Europe for automotive investment.”
Jaguar Land Rover
A JLR spokesperson said: “For Jaguar Land Rover, today is just business as usual. We are a British business with a strong manufacturing base in this country, we call Britain home and we remain committed to all our manufacturing sites and investment decisions.
“We respect the decision of the British people and in common with all other businesses, Jaguar Land Rover will analyse the issues arising from it: as of today, nothing has changed for us or the rest of the British automotive industry.
“Europe is a key strategic market for our business, comprising 20% of global sales, and we remain absolutely committed to our customers in the EU.
“There will be a significant negotiating period, and we need to understand more about that as details emerge. We will work hard with all parties to ensure that the importance of the British automotive industry is fully understood at every level of the negotiation process.”
In 2015, Jaguar Land Rover produced 500,000 vehicles in the UK: 80% of production was exported to more than 180 countries
BMW Group
A BMW GB spokesperson said: “BMW Group respects the British electorate’s decision to leave the EU. While it is clear there will now be a period of uncertainty, there will be no immediate change to our operations in the UK.
“Today, we know that many of the relevant conditions for supplying the European market will have to be re-negotiated, but of course we cannot say what this means for our UK operations until those future regulatory and legislative arrangements are agreed. We will not speculate about the outcome of these negotiations nor about any possible effects that might have on our production operations in the UK
In 2015, 201,206 MINIs were built in the UK. 80% of MINIs built in Oxford are exported, and 50% of those go to Europe
Honda
A Honda spokesperson said: “A decision has been taken by the British people and Honda respects that decision. At this moment, it is not clear what conditions and rules will ultimately replace the UK’s membership of the EU. We will therefore carefully monitor developments.
“We continue to prepare for the production launch of the 10th generation Civic from our Swindon plant. Honda remains committed to its business in Europe.”
In 2015, Honda built around 130,000 cars in the UK. 40% went to Europe
Nissan
Motoring Research contacted Nissan for comment: the firm said it is making no comment at this time.
In 2015, Nissan produced 476,589 and exported 55% to Europe
Toyota
A Toyota spokesperson said: “Going forward we will closely monitor and analyse the impact on our business operations in the UK, and how we can maintain competitiveness and secure sustainable growth together with the UK automotive industry and other stakeholders.”
Aston Martin
An Aston Martin spokesperson said: “Aston Martin will now orientate its business to deliver our mid-term plan in the context of the exit and the market and forex volatility that may exist during the period of transition. As the UK could now be subject to new trade tariff barriers, we also anticipate the need for additional productivity and efficiency in the medium term.
“Nevertheless, it is important that Government must now maintain economic stability and secure a deal with the EU which safeguards UK automotive interests. This includes securing tariff free access to European and other global markets.
In 2015, Aston Martin sold 3,500 cars
Bentley
A Bentley spokesperson said: “Bentley Motors respects the outcome of the EU referendum and will now work with the UK Government and motor industry to secure a positive future for its business.
“Although it is too early to assess the full implications on our operations, our cars will continue to be built with the same passion and dedication by our skilled workforce. As a global business, operating in many different international markets, we are well-placed to adapt to changing economic and political conditions.
“We will stay focused on our exciting plans for new products. Bentley has a strong future and will continue to be the world’s most sought after luxury car brand.”
In 2015, Bentley sold 10,100 cars, of which 1,695 (17%) went to continental Europe
Glass’s
Rupert Pontin, Glass’s director of valuations, said: “A ‘Brexit’ is an interesting result that sees the UK very much embark on a new chapter that is largely unwritten.
“If the Brexit voters are correct in their thinking, it could create greater prosperity for the country in the long term but, over the next few months and years, the road is likely to be very bumpy. Markets will be affected, as will the value of the pound, and we expect to see consumer confidence tail off until the view of the way forward becomes clearer. How long this will take is difficult to predict.
“For the motor industry, all of these developments are very likely to have negative effects including a period of instability for new and used car sales, as well as an increase in pre-reg activity and downward pressure on values.
Road Haulage Association
Chief executive Richard Burnett said: “This is an ‘earthquake moment’ for the whole country, the economy and our industry. We simply cannot take anything for granted. It’s vital that Ministers and the Bank of England work quickly to steady markets and nerves.”
FairFuelUK
Howard Cox founder of FairFuelUK said: “We are hearing that major oil supplying countries may differentiate oil prices for the UK and EU States following Vote Leave’s victory in the EU Referendum. Any knee jerk reprisal by penalising UK drivers with higher prices at the pumps through higher oil prices, is nothing short of opportunistic, vindictive and unnecessary.
“We are horror-struck that there is hear-say, no matter if it is just grapevine gossip, that global oil prices may now be manipulated by economic region.”
It’s a historical turn of events that has divided the country: the UK has voted in favour of a so-called ‘Brexit’ of the European Union.
The markets have reacted, with the pound plunging to its lowest level against the dollar since the mid 1980s. No one really knows what the future holds for the UK – but there’s one thing that’s guaranteed, global car manufacturers who produce cars here are going to be disappointed.
More on Brexit from Motoring Research:
The Telegraph: What would Brexit mean for motorists and the UK car industry?
RAC: What the EU referendum means for drivers?
Japanese manufacturer Toyota produces cars at its site in Burnaston, Derbyshire, and warned this week that “if the UK leaves the EU, we think it unlikely that the UK can keep the current trading arrangements.”
It added this would mean paying duties on cars – as much as 10%, leading to huge losses to Toyota, or more expensive cars for customers.
Nissan meanwhile, with its huge Sunderland plant (where around half a million cars are built a year), went as far as taking legal action against Vote Leave for using its logo in its material. And other manufacturers, including Vauxhall, BMW and Jaguar Land Rover, all voiced support for the Remain campaign.
Industry body SMMT also backed staying in the EU – no surprise, as 80% of cars built in Britain are exported, contributing £15.5 billion a year annually to the UK economy.
SMMT chief executive, Mike Hawes, said a Remain vote would continue the automotive industry’s success, “rather than jeopardise it by increasing costs, making our trading relationships uncertain and creating new barriers to our single biggest and most important market, Europe.”
So where did it go wrong? Seemingly at around 1am this morning when Sunderland was one of the first areas to reveal the results of local polls – with Leave taking the lead with 61% of the votes. That’s in an area where around 7,000 people are employed directly in car manufacturing by Nissan, a manufacturer which has strongly backed remaining in the EU.
The people of Derby, home to Toyota’s UK factory, also backed Brexit – with 57% voting Leave, despite the firm directly employing nearly 4,000 workers in the area. And 56% of people supported the Leave campaign in Solihull, home of Land Rover.
The SMMT has been quick to react. Mike Hawes said: “The British public has chosen a new future out of Europe. Government must now maintain economic stability and secure a deal with the EU which safeguards UK automotive interests. This includes securing tariff-free access to European and other global markets, ensuring we can recruit talent from the EU and the rest of the world and making the UK the most competitive place in Europe for automotive investment.”
We don’t know what will happen now. Manufacturers aren’t going to suddenly close down their huge British plants are move production elsewhere – but there could, and will be, significant consequences for car making in the UK.
It raises the question: should car manufacturers have done more? Many wrote to workers, making it clear where they stood. But should they have spelt out the consequences of backing Boris Johnson et al? Or would that have been undemocratic?
Aston Martin and Red Bull Racing have revealed the stunning new AM-RB 001, the radical hypercar developed by the two brands and led by star F1 genius Adrian Newey, Aston Martin designer Marek Reichman and engineering ace David King. The new Aston Martin Red Bull could just be the F1 car for the road to outdo every other car ever created…
