Former Toro Rosso has announced his retirement from motor racing at the age of 25 to begin a new career in music – under the stage name Squire.
Alguersuari became the youngest Formula 1 driver ever when he started his first race at the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix: he was also the first born in the 1990s to compete in F1. During his three-year F1 career, he scored 31 points in 46 races.
The Spanish former racer also has a title to his name – he was the 2008 winner of the British Formula Three Championship, beating current F1 racer Sergio Perez in the process.
He also raced in Formula Renault 3.5 during 2009, winning a race during the season, although his title challenge was stymied by his concurrent promotion into F1: he finished the year third in the points.
After F1, Alguersuari raced in the Formula E championship in 2014 and 2015 – but missed the final two races of 2015 after fainting at the end of the Moscow ePrix in June; the FIA withdrew his racing licence while he underwent tests.
Now, Alguersuari has officially retired from motorsport – but says it’s unrelated to his health issues. “I’m fine with no illness, but I have decided to stop because it is a time for a change.
“Something tells me it’s time to take another road because I think I have fallen out of love with this bride who has been with me all of my life.”
The accomplished DJ and musician will now focus full-time on his music career, following up the 2011 album he released under the name Squire (which you can listen to on Spotify).
Alguersuari admitted “I have many people around me who do not understand my decision, but I want to live honestly, and that is now how I have felt in motor sport”.
“I do not want more money,” he told Spanish newspaper El Confidencial, “I want to live the truth.” From one type of track to another: all the best, Jamie Alguersuari and Squire.
The law banning anyone from smoking in a vehicle containing passengers aged under 18 comes is now in force – despite concerns that 3.1 million smokers are unaware of the ban.
A survey by Kwik Fit Insurance has found that 22 percent of smokers don’t realise the new law is being introduced, putting them at risk of £50 on-the-spot fines.
The research has found that more than 9 million smokers admit to previously smoking in a car containing children – meaning a whopping £458 million in fines could be raked in if they continue.
But research by the RAC has found that the majority of motorists don’t have enough confidence in the police to enforce the new laws.
RAC spokesman Simon Williams said: “Nine in 10 motorists have concerns about the extent to which the new law is likely to be enforced. This is perhaps well-founded as traffic police officer numbers have fallen by nearly a quarter (23 percent) between 2010 and 2014 across forces in England and Wales, so it is hard to see how people flouting the law are going to be caught.
“The new ban joins a raft of other laws that have been introduced in recent years, such as making it illegal to undertake or hog the middle lane of a motorway. But without sufficient enforcement, there is a real danger that these laws will quickly be forgotten by a large proportion of the motoring population.”
Kwik Fit’s research found the majority of drivers support the ban – both smokers (80 percent) and non-smokers (87 percent). But they disagree about the £50 fines, with more than a quarter of smokers finding it too harsh, while one in five non-smokers claim it’s too lenient.
Stewart Barnett, Marketing Director at Kwik Fit Insurance Services said: “While there are a few differences in opinion on the ins and outs of the new law, it appears that the majority of people, whether they smoke or not, are in agreement that protecting the health of the nation’s children is the most important factor in these new rules.
“Cutting back on smoking has obvious long-term health benefits for all car passengers, not just children. Drivers need to make sure they are fully aware of the new rules in order to make sure they stay on the right side of the law. The added benefit is that the dangerous practice of driving with the distraction of smoking will also be limited.”
The survey also found that many smokers think there should be some leniency around the punishment, with 50 percent saying fines shouldn’t be issued if windows are left open, and 36% thinking having the air-con on should allow them to dodge the penalty.
Interestingly, more than a third of those surveyed – smokers and non-smokers – said they’d report a driver or passenger they saw smoking in the car.
Tesla boss Elon Musk has taken the covers of the company’s new Model X SUV at an event held in California.
Like the Tesla Model S, the X is powered by two electric motors creating a combined output of 762hp – meaning it can hit 62mph in just 3.2 seconds.
That’s in ‘ludicrous’ mode – typically, the P90D model takes 3.8 seconds, while providing up to 250 miles of range from a single charge.
With the batteries located on the Model X’s floor, Tesla says it’ll handle better than other SUVs thanks to its low centre of gravity. It also boasts the lowest drag coefficient in its class of 0.24 – thanks partly to an active spoiler that adjusts depending on speed.
The Tesla Model X is practical, too, with seven seats and a towing capacity of 2,250kg. Tesla says it’s ‘designed to be the safest car on the road’ with automatic emergency braking and a side-collision avoidance system as standard.
Every model will also come with a forward-facing camera, radar and 360-degree sonar sensor that, the manufacturer claims, will ‘enable advanced autopilot features’. Although they’ll just be used for tricks such as automatic parking for now, Tesla hints that they bring ‘the Model X ever closer to autonomous operation’.
Like the concept version revealed in 2013, the Model X features ‘Falcon Wing’ doors that require just 30cm of space on either side to open. They open automatically as the driver approaches the car, meaning they never need to touch the door.
As in the Model S, the Model X will feature a large 17-inch touchscreen on the centre of the dashboard to control the car’s features, from audio to vehicle data.
Prices are yet to be confirmed for the UK, where the Model X is expected to go on sale before the end of the year. Expect them to be similar to the Model S, starting at around £55,000 and going up to £90,000.
Humberside Police has admitted to hiding cameras in farm vehicles in a bid to catch speeding bikers on rural roads in East Yorkshire.
This is despite advice from the Government that ‘vehicles from which mobile speed cameras can be deployed should be liveried and clearly identifiable as an enforcement vehicle’.
A police spokesman confirmed to the Daily Mail that they were using tractors and other agricultural vehicles in a bid to cut down on fatal accidents involving motorbikes.
As part of Operation Achilles, the force has previously used marked bikes to catch speeders and reduce accident rates in the area.
But it decided that it’d prove cheaper to buy a tractor and a horsebox to hide police officers with handheld speed guns.
Inspector Mark Hughes from Humberside Police Road Policing told the Mail: “At the moment Humberside Police are conducting Operation Kansas in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
“This operation runs alongside the well-established and much publicised Operation Achilles. It is concerned with “high-end” speeding offenders in East Riding, deploying speed cameras, which are located in a variety of stationary vehicles.
“Vehicles which are detected travelling at very high speeds are stopped further along the road and drivers/riders are spoken to and dealt with at the roadside.
“Although the majority of offenders are motorcycles, a number of cars are also dealt with on this operation. We regularly record speeds in the high 90s and over 100 mph, these being on country roads where the national speed limit of 60 mph is in force.”
As expected, Martin Winterkorn has resigned from his position as Volkswagen CEO. The news comes following a meeting of the executive committee of Volkswagen’s supervisory board, in which Winterkorn was invited to present his case.
It is believed the group met on Tuesday evening, but it was widely predicted that Winterkorn would be forced to resign. According to Bloomberg, “what Winterkorn knew about a scheme intended to dupe regulators and consumers” would have been critical to the discussions. Winterkorn issued an official apology to consumers and Volkswagen workers, but initially refused to step down.
But with pressure mounting, Winterkorn and the board of Volkswagen were left with little option.
Fresh start for Volkswagen
“I am clearing the way for this fresh start with my resignation”, said Winterkorn.
But Winterkorn was quick to claim no wrong doing on his part, saying: “I am shocked by the events of the past few days. Stunned by the misconduct on such a scale possible in the Volkswagen Group.”
Winterkorn: Volkswagen will always be my life
Martin Winterkorn’s resignation statement, in full:
“I am shocked by the events of the past few days. Above all, I am stunned that misconduct on such a scale was possible in the Volkswagen Group.
As CEO I accept responsibility for the irregularities that have been found in diesel engines and have therefore requested the Supervisory Board to agree on terminating my function as CEO of the Volkswagen Group. I am doing this in the interests of the company even though I am not aware of any wrong doing on my part.
Volkswagen needs a fresh start – also in terms of personnel. I am clearing the way for this fresh start with my resignation.
I have always been driven by my desire to serve this company, especially our customers and employees. Volkswagen has been, is and will always be my life.
The process of clarification and transparency must continue. This is the only way to win back trust. I am convinced that the Volkswagen Group and its team will overcome this grave crisis.”
Fall-out set to continue
The fall-out from the emissions cheating scandal is expected to continue. Shares in the beleaguered Group fell by 17% on Monday, dropping a further 19.7% on Tuesday. The net result is one-third being wiped off the company’s value.
It is said that Volkswagen has hired US law firm Kirkland & Ellis to help deal with event. This is the same firm that handled the Deepwater Horizon investigation in 2010.
The Volkswagen board will discuss Winterkorn’s replacement on Friday and further changes in personnel are expected.
Tim Tozer has quit his position of chairman and managing director of Vauxhall Motors, with Rory Harvey his replacement. Tozer joined Vauxhall in February 2014, replacing Duncan Aldred, who moved to Detroit to become US vice president of Buick-GMC sales, service and marketing.
The surprise news comes during the week in which the all-new Astra is launched in the UK and off the back of an upbeat Frankfurt Motor Show, during which Tozer spoke of his high hopes for the new hatchback. Indeed, he even featured in the promotional video to support the Astra’s press launch in Liverpool.
Tozer has huge experience in the automotive industry, including a spell as CEO of Autobinck Holding in the Netherlands, president and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors Europe and managing director of Mazda UK. In a statement, Vauxhall said he would “pursue his career outside of General Motors”, although there’s no word on where he is moving to.
His replacement, Rory Harvey, moves across from Opel Europe, where he was executive director for sales. He will report to Peter Kuespert, vice president of sales and aftersales, who had this to say on the appointment: “Rory has a profound knowledge of the British car market, a wealth of experience within Vauxhall and Opel and excellent management qualities.
“We look forward to working with Rory on the implementation of our model offensive and building an even stronger Vauxhall brand. At the same time, I would like to thank Tim for the great commitment he showed towards our brand.”
Under Tim Tozer’s watch, Vauxhall has launched the fifth generation Corsa as well as bringing the OnStar service to the UK. He leaves as the Astra is receiving its most positive reviews for years.
It’s the news the beleaguered motorist has been waiting for: an end to what feels like roadworks that go on for miles and miles. Highways England is considering proposals to limit the length of roadworks on motorways and A-roads to a maximum of between two and five miles, bringing some relief to commuters.
Government ministers are putting pressure on contractors to shorten the length of roadworks, with the Department for Transport (DfT) calling for “common sense decisions.” A spokesperson for the DfT said: “Our road investment strategy will deliver the biggest upgrade to Britain’s roads in a generation and secure our transport network for the long term.
“But as it is delivered we’ve got to respect the drivers who use our roads every day.
“That means taking common sense decisions to minimise frustrations wherever possible.”
Favourable, if sceptical response to news
Music to the ears of UK motorists? The response on Twitter has been largely favourable, although some are sceptical that the proposed changes will actually take place:
Motorway roadworks ‘should be limited to two miles’ https://t.co/4CaHXqMwq1 At last some common sense. Bet it’ll never happen tho.
Drivers who have to face the misery of the M3 on a daily basis will undoubtedly welcome the news. Work is currently underway to transform the section between junctions 2 and 4a into a smart motorway, complete with a 50mph limit along a 13.4-mile stretch of road. Construction started last autumn and isn’t expected to be complete until the winter of 2016.
A common sense step?
There are similar works taking place on the M1 and M6 motorways, with drivers resigned to the fact they will face delays to their journey.
Under the proposals, many of the current roadworks would need to be scaled back. The AA’s Edmund King called for more overnight works, with motorway roadworks “limited to 10 miles”, arguing that “more incentives” would encourage contractors to get the work finished on time.
Meanwhile, RAC chief engineer David Bizley, told Motoring Research: “The Government’s road investment strategy has promised motorists the biggest improvement to England’s major roads in a generation. However it is vital that this upgrade is delivered in a way that does not cause unnecessary inconvenience.
“The sight of mile after mile of traffic cones and reduced speed limits, only for work to be taking place on a single small stretch of road, is a source of frustration for motorists. A move to complete major roadworks in phases, which would see motorists encounter shorter ‘bursts’ of temporary speed limits rather than a single one that runs for a long distance, will be seen as a common sense step by drivers.”
£15 billion ‘road revolution’
The government has committed to spend £15 billion before the end of the decade, as part of a ‘roads revolution’ across the country. Planned projects include a smart motorway between junctions 3 and 12 on the M4, along with a similar scheme between junctions 4a and 6 on the M5 in the Midlands. Needless to say, the new proposals will have an impact on the proposed works.
There are currently no timescales attached to the proposals and no guarantee that the limits will be enforced. We’ll bring you more news when we have it.
Volkswagen and Audi diesel cars built between 2009-2015 have violated US air pollution regulations, alleges the Environmental Protection Agency – through the use of a ‘defeat device’ that turns on full emissions controls only during official testing.
It means cars in normal use are emitting nitrogen oxides – NOx – at up to 40 times the mandatory standard.
Volkswagen may now face civil penalties and other fines for the use of the defeat device, which is said to have been used on almost 500,000 Volkswagens and Audis since 2008.
Cars affected include:
Volkswagen Beetle (2009-2015)
Volkswagen Golf (2009-2005)
Volkswagen Jetta (2009-2015)
Volkswagen Passat (2014-2015)
Audi A3 (2009-2015)
CEO Winterkorn ‘deeply sorry’
In an unusual move, Volkswagen AG CEO Dr. Martin Winterkorn has already responded, saying over the weekend that “I personally am deeply sorry that we have broken the trust of our customers and the public.
“We will cooperate fully with the responsible agencies, with transparency and urgency, to clearly, openly and completely establish all of the facts of this case.
“We do not and will not tolerate violations of any kind of our internal rules or of the law.”
The firm has now ordered an external investigation and Winterkorn says it is now his and his Board of Management’s top priority.
If found guilty, Volkswagen could face breathtaking fines of up to $18 billion (£11.5 billion): that’s because of possible fines of $37,500 for every one of the 482,000 diesels sold with the emissions defeat device fitted.
Volkswagen share price drops 13%
As the world woke up to the news this week, shares in Volkswagen went into free-fall, suffering their most dramatic plunge in almost six years. Reuters is reporting that Volkswagen shares fell 13% to 140.95 euros by 0207 EDT, ‘the biggest one-day drop since November 2009.’ This follows a 4.5% fall in New York, immediately after the announcement by the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Following the unexpected departure of Ferdinand Piëch, 2015 is shaping up to be a year to forget for Volkswagen. This latest allegation catapults the company from the business and automotive press, to the consumer news headlines. A story to watch.
Jaguar F-Pace programme director Andy Whyman believes the new SUV will be as transformational for the firm as the Range Rover Evoque has been for Land Rover.
“The ingredients are there,” he said at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. “The vision has been clear from the start and it’s a logical new car for us in a fast-growing segment.”
The Evoque heralded the start of the current boom in Land Rover sales and even today, five years after launch, the factory is still operating around the clock to build more than 100,000 units a year.
Jaguar, which last year sold 81,570 cars, feels the F-Pace will deliver a proportionally similar lift – and will mean the entire brand should no longer outsold by the smash-hit Range Rover Evoque.
No crossover with Land Rover
Whyman says there was never any concern that the first-ever Jaguar SUV would step on the toes of Land Rover.
“Both brands are very different and are positioned separately: our research shows there’s likely to be little cross-shopping between the F-Pace and Land Rover models.
“It’s first and foremost a Jaguar: it handles like a Jaguar, has sports car proportions and, while it can tackle mixed-road conditions, is a road-biased vehicle.
“It’s obvious to customers that the Jaguar and Land Rover brands are different: we don’t expect Range Rover Sport customers to start looking at F-Pace.”
Whyman also said the firm is comfortable with its first SUV. “It is natural to us – we don’t think of it as an SUV: it ‘feels’ like a Jaguar.”
Jaguar has revealed the new F-Pace SUV on the eve of the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. Its first 4×4, the sporty-looking new ‘performance crossover’ goes on sale in 2016 priced from £34,170.
Jaguar F-Pace SUV revealed in World Record stunt
The new Jaguar F-Pace is a sporty five-seat crossover that has one car in its sights – the Porsche Macan. Jaguar says the standard-setting Porsche is the best car in this sector for driving dynamics – and is the one it’s focused on beating…
Built in Britain at Jaguar’s Solihull plant, the F-Pace is targeted with bringing a whole new sector of customer to the Jaguar brand. 4 in 5 buyers will be new to the brand and, of all the firm’s new cars, it’s the F-Pace that will “forever change perceptions of the brand”.
The idea of designing an SUV, admits Jaguar design director Ian Callum, was something “I never dreamt of doing”. Jaguar, after all, owns Land Rover, which only makes… SUVs. However, the market now demands SUVs in all shapes and guises – so Jaguar had to respond.
The Jaguar F-Pace is thus designed as a performance crossover SUV, one that takes direct influences from the Jaguar F-Pace (hence the name).
Unlike Land Rovers, you’ll rarely see F-Pace off-road; but you will, hopes the brand, see them in high streets across the world – the medium-sized SUV sector the F-Pace competes in is set to grow 50% between now and 2020…
F-Pace: concept car to production
The Jaguar F-Pace is the production version of Jaguar’s stunning C-X17 concept car, revealed two years ago at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show. This was the first clear signal that the brand wanted to make an SUV…
Since C-X17, Jaguar’s been working hard to productionise it, says Callum. “Every millimetre has changed since the concept – but not so you’d notice.” Can you tell the difference?
“The F-Pace is true to the spirit of Jaguar,” says designer Callum. “It has elegance, a sense of speed and motion that most SUVs don’t have.” Size-wise, it’s similar to the Porsche Macan, and will also compete with the Audi Q5 and BMW X3.
Callum uses descriptions such as strong proportions, sweeping rooflines and strong haunches to describe the F-Pace. “I could be talking about the F-Type, and this is no coincidence – there’s a lot of that car in the F-Pace.”
The tail lights are similar to the Jaguar F-Pace – which, said Callum, are influenced by the E-Type. Most won’t realise this but “I know where it came from,” he said…
It’s a five-seat SUV – you wouldn’t be able to get that sweeping roofline if it was a seven-seater. Jaguar has no plans to make a seven-seat version: it’ll leave that market to Land Rover.
Callum’s given the F-Pace a simple look inside, in contrast to the ‘fussy’ interiors of some rivals. Once cool feature is the illuminated smartphone holders on the centre console – after all, says Callum, who wants to store smartphones in cupholders…
Jaguar says the F-Pace has the world’s most advanced infotainment system, with more computer processing power than a Boeing 777. It’s called InControl Touch Pro and uses a 100GB SSD, Ethernet networking and a quad core processor.
The F-Pace even debuts a new piece of wearable Jaguar technology – the Activity Key. This is a waterproof band you can wear when swimming, that unlocks the car instead of a key. It’s a Jaguar first.
It’s built on Jaguar’s aluminium-intensive architecture also used by the new XE and XF. It has double wishbone front suspension and Integral Link rear suspension that are sold in three grades – two of them the same as on the sporty F-Type.
Most F-Pace will likely be sold with the 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine, offered in rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive guise. It also offers a V6 turbo diesel and the two V6 engines taken straight from the F-Pace – it currently thus produces up to 380hp, for 0-60mph in 5.1 seconds. Watch out, Macan…
The Jaguar F-Pace will cost from £34,170: that will buy you a 180hp 2.0-litre Ingenium turbodiesel with a manual gearbox and rear-wheel drive.
Deliveries of the Jaguar F-Pace will begin in 2016, although the firm says customers can head over to its website right now to start configurating the car.
The F-Pace will be sold in familiar Jaguar trim lines: Prestige (from £34,170), R-Sport (from £36,670), Portfolio (from £39,170) and the sporty S (from £51,450).
Jaguar has an extra range-topping model for the launch of the F-Pace, called First Edition. This has extras such as mighty 22-inch alloys, Windsor leather seats, LED headlights and a panoramic roof. It costs from £65,275.
Former Toro Rosso has announced his retirement from motor racing at the age of 25 to begin a new career in music – under the stage name Squire.
