Volkswagen to reveal Golf GTI 50th Anniversary special edition

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March 21, 2025

Volkswagen’s legendary hot hatchback, the Golf GTI, will celebrate its 50th birthday in 2026. However, VW plans to start the party early.

As part of the Nurburgring 24 Hours race in June – now Germany’s largest motorsport event – Volkswagen will preview a commemorative Golf GTI 50th Anniversary, due on sale next year.

Volkswagen will also showcase other performance models from its range at the ‘Ring, including the Golf R hatchback and estate.

On track, the Max Kruse Racing customer team plans to enter two Golf GTI ‘Clubsport 24h’ cars, one of them piloted by Volkswagen development driver, Benjamin ‘Benny’ Leuchter.

Five decades of GTI history

Volkswagen is keeping quiet on details of the 50th anniversary Golf GTI, only noting it will be a ‘a sporty special model’.

However, the German marque does have plenty of experience with commemorative GTIs, having started in 1996 with the 20th Anniversary Edition – based on the Mk3 Golf.

Limited to 1,000 examples, the Golf GTI 20th Anniversary came with 16-inch BBS alloy wheels, red badges and chequered Recaro seats.

Later Anniversary Editions, released every subsequent five years, have continued the trend of larger wheels and bespoke styling, giving some indication as to the direction the 50th Anniversary GTI could take.

‘Ring in the celebrations

The Nurburgring 24 Hours has become the event of choice for Volkswagen to launch new performance models, with more than 230,000 fans attending over the race weekend.

Back in 2016, it was used to announce the limited edition Mk7 Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport S. This 310hp, two-seat GTI later entered the record books by breaking the front-wheel-drive production car lap record around the Nordschleife circuit.

Last year, the updated Golf GTI Clubsport was revealed at the endurance race, featuring a ‘Special’ drive mode optimised for use at the Nurburgring. The 2025 Nurburgring 24 Hour race takes place from 20-21 June.

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Leapmotor EVs arrive in the UK, priced from £199 a month

By

John Redfern

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March 20, 2025

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Chinese electric car brand Leapmotor has launched two new vehicles in the UK, with the promise of ‘value without compromise’.

Aotomotive conglomerate Stellantis purchased a 20 percent stake in Leapmotor during 2023, establishing an international joint venture to bring the Chinese EVs to a global audience.

This includes the UK, with 44 dealerships across the country set to offer Leapmotor vehicles. This network will be expanded to 80 dealers by the end of 2025.

Damien Dally, managing director of Leapmotor UK, said: “These exciting new electric cars epitomise our bold mission to be the best value EV brand in the UK by delivering the highest level of specification and the highest level of technology, as standard.

“We believe customers shouldn’t have to compromise on quality for affordability and that this is truly a value without compromise proposition for UK car buyers.”

Challenging the Dacia Spring

The cheapest model in the Leapmotor UK range is the distinctive T03 hatchback, with prices starting from £15,995. It makes this city car one of the cheapest ways into new EV, competing with the Dacia Spring for outright affordability.

PCP finance deals on the Leapmotor T03, with zero percent APR, start from £199 per month.

Powered by a 37.3kWh battery pack, the T03 can officially cover up to 165 miles on a full charge. A 95hp electric motor means 0-62mph takes a sedate 12.7 seconds.

Offered in one single trim level, the T03 comes with a 10.1-inch central touchscreen, 8.0-inch digital instrument panel, climate control air-con, a panoramic sunroof and a reversing camera.

A budget electric SUV

With more space, and a more substantial starting price of £36,500, the Leapmotor C10 is intended to challenge D-segment electric SUVs such as the Skoda Enyaq and and Volkswagen ID.4.

Pressing the value point, the C10 comes as standard with a panoramic sunroof, heated and cooled front seats, a surround-view camera, a 12-speaker audio system and a 14.6-inch central touchscreen.

Standard safety equipment includes automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, blind spot detection and adaptive cruise control. This all helped the C10 receive the maximum five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.

Only one powertrain is available: a 218hp motor with a 69.9kWh battery. A range of 263 miles is claimed to be possible.

As with the T03, the Leapmotor C10 comes with a four-year warranty as standard, along with eight years of cover for the battery pack.

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Tesla in freefall as leasing enquiries plummet 87%

London ULEZ checker: how to check if you need to pay

Tesla in freefall as leasing enquires plummet 87%

By

John Redfern

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March 20, 2025

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UK motorists are losing interest in Tesla electric cars, according to new data from a leading lease company.

Leasing Options has analysed the volume of leasing enquiries during the past 12 months. Overall, there has been an 11 percent decline in customers looking at a Tesla.

Of greater concern for the American EV brand, however – and its highly controversial CEO Elon Musk – is the speed of the decrease seen in the past month.

Comparing enquiries from February 2025 with the same month in 2024 reveals a dramatic 87 percent fall in demand for leasing a Tesla.

Tesla no longer ‘the automatic first choice’

Mike Thompson, COO at Leasing Options, comments: “Tesla has always been as much about brand image as it has been about technology. However, growing controversy around Elon Musk – both in his leadership of Tesla and his wider public persona – is alienating consumers.

“His outspoken political views, erratic decision-making, and controversial social media activity have led some former fans to distance themselves from the brand. People are re-evaluating their options and right now, Tesla isn’t the automatic first choice it once was.”

The analysis by Leasing Options follows a recent survey of Tesla owners that highlighted 70 percent were now ‘ashamed’ of their car.

A competitive EV market

Remaining members of the ‘Teslarati’ cannot simply attribute the drop in Tesla enquiries to a lack of interest for leasing electric vehicles, either.

Indeed, Leasing Options has seen an enormous 509 percent increase in customer enquiries about electric cars during the last year. Interest in Chinese brand BYD has rocketed by 793 percent, with even the long-established Ford brand seeing a 156 percent jump in enquiries about EVs.

Enquiries about Volkswagen’s electric models have grown by 127 percent, with a host of other brands also witnessing a rising demand.

Thompson explains: “Tesla, once the undisputed leader in the EV space, is now facing serious pressure from competitors who are matching or even surpassing them on price, range and features.

“Brands like BYD, Polestar, Volkswagen and Kia, plus emerging players such as Jaecoo and Omoda, are providing strong alternatives, and UK consumers are clearly paying attention.”

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London ULEZ checker: How to check if you need to pay

By

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

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March 20, 2025

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The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) has been in operation for 24 hours a day in London since early 2019. It means drivers of certain vehicles must pay a daily charge to enter the Greater London area.

The ULEZ originally covered the same inner-city area as the Congestion Charge, then expanded to everywhere within the North and South Circular roads. It then grew again in August 2023 to cover most of the area inside the M25 orbital motorway.

Cars must meet certain Euro-mandated exhaust emissions standards to comply with the ULEZ. Diesel cars registered as recently as 2015 could be eligible for the £12.50 daily charge.

How to check if you need to pay the ulez

Transport for London (TfL) – which oversees the ULEZ and has earned more than £875 million in revenue from the scheme since 2019 – has created an online check tool to see if you must pay to enter the zone.

Click here and input your registration number to discover if your car is liable for the daily fee.

If in doubt, this online checker from automotive data provider HPI offers a breakdown of the different Euro emissions standards for cars.

London ULEZ: Do I need to pay?

Drivers who enter the London ULEZ in vehicles that do not comply with the emissions standards are subject to a £12.50 daily fee. That’s on top of the £15 Congestion Charge if you enter the central zone, don’t forget.

Unlike the Congestion Charge, the ULEZ is enforced 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It applies every day of the year apart from Christmas day.

Vehicles affected are those with pre-Euro 6 diesel engines and pre-Euro 4 petrol engines. Diesel cars that meet the standards are generally those registered after September 2015. Petrol cars registered after 2005 should meet the minimum requirements.

Riders of motorcycles built before 2007 also have to pay the ULEZ charge.

Read our full guide to the London ULEZ charge here, including more details of the forthcoming expansion to the zone in autumn 2023.

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Goodwood Festival of Speed to celebrate genius of Gordon Murray

By

John Redfern

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March 19, 2025

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The 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed will honour one of Britain’s greatest engineers, Professor Gordon Murray CBE.

Gordon Murray Automotive (GMA) will star as the featured marque at this summer’s event, taking pride of place on the central display outside Goodwood House.

Vehicles from Murray’s six decades of design and engineering will be showcased, from his earliest work through to the latest GMA supercars.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed will take place between Thursday 10 July and Sunday 13 July 2025.

Championship-winning design

Born to Scottish parents in Durban, South Africa, Murray studied mechanical engineering at Natal Technical College. He soon built his first car, the IGM Ford, entering it into local motorsport championships.

Murray moved to the UK in 1969, finding a job with the Brabham Formula One Team. He was promoted to chief designer when the business was bought by Bernie Ecclestone.

This led to radical innovations such as the Brabham BT46B ‘fan car’, and the BT52 that took Nelson Piquet to the 1983 Formula One Drivers’ World Championship.

Joining McLaren in 1986, Murray was responsible for designing cars that won four consecutive Constructors’ and Drivers’ World Championships between 1988 and 1991.

60 years of pushing boundaries

Later turning his attention to road cars, including the iconic McLaren F1, Murray founded his own design consultancy in 2007, followed by GMA in 2017.

Alongside classic road and race cars from Murray’s back catalogue, Goodwood will assemble a host of modern GMA supercars. The celebration will culminate with the launch of a brand new T.33-based model from GMA.

Professor Gordon Murray CBE said: “For 60 years I have enjoyed the design and engineering challenge of pushing the boundaries of what’s possible – be that in racing or road cars.

“The supercars that Gordon Murray Automotive builds today are inspired by every car I’ve designed, raced and owned. Lightweight design, innovative use of materials, the latest technologies, and even bending the laws of physics come into all we do.”

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BMW X3, Hyundai Inster and Kia EV3 are finalists for World Car of the Year 2025

By

Richard Aucock

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March 18, 2025

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Four people on stage at the New York Auto Show, receiving an award. A blue car is displayed, surrounded by photographers.

The BMW X3, Hyundai Inster and Kia EV3 have all been named finalists for the prestigious World Car of the Year 2025 prize.

The top honour in global automotive awards, the trio will now progess to the final at the New York International Auto Show on 16 April.

The 2025 winner will follow on from the Kia EV9, which was named 2024 World Car of the Year.

Kia’s place in the Top Three also comes just weeks after the new Kia EV3 was crowned UK Car of the Year 2025 – coincidentally, following 2024’s UKCOTY winner, the Kia EV9.

Category contenders

Both the Hyundai Inster and Kia EV3 are also finalists for World Electric Vehicle 2025, along with the Porsche Macan Electric.

The Kia EV3 is a finalist for World Car Design as well, with the Toyota Land Cruiser and Volkswagen ID. Buzz.

In the World Luxury Car 2025 category, it’s a showdown between the Porsche Macan, Porsche Panamera and Volvo EX30,

There are two Porsches in the World Performance Car 2025 Top Three – the 911 Carrera GTS and Taycan Turbo GT along with the BMW M5.

Finally, the World Urban Car 2025 category celebrates city-friendly models. The BYD Seagull and Dolphin Mini, plus the Hyundai Inster and Mini Cooper Electric, will now do battle for this year’s prize.

World honours

Gold trophy with a planet and ring design above text "World Car Awards," symbolizing global automotive recognition.

The Top Three in the World finalists are powered by Brembo.

“We are honoured to celebrate the finalists of the prestigious World Car of The Year Awards,” says Daniele Schillaci, Brembo’s CEO. “These awards recognise the best cars in the world, setting new benchmarks in technology, performance and design.”

The votes have been tabulated by LPMG. Ninety-six jurors from 30 countries – including Motoring Research’s Richard Aucock – chose their Top Three in the World by secret ballot.

World Car Awards is the biggest automotive awards in the world, with the largest reach and greatest exposure.

All winners will be announced live at the New York International Auto Show ahead of it opening to the public, This year marks the 20th year of the World Car Awards’ partnership with NYIAS.

Top Three in the World finalists in full:

World Car of the Year 2025

BMW X3
Hyundai Inster / Casper Electric
Kia EV3

World Electric Vehicle 2025

Hyundai Inster / Casper Electric
Kia EV3
Porsche Macan Electric

World Luxury Car 2025

Porsche Macan
Porsche Panamera
Volvo EX90

World Performance Car 2025

BMW M5
Porsche 911 Carrera GTS
Porsche Taycan Turbo GT

World Urban Car 2025

BYD Seagull / Dolphin Mini
Hyundai Inster / Casper Electric
Mini Cooper Electric

World Car Design 2025

Kia EV3
Toyota Land Cruiser / Land Cruiser 250
Volkswagen ID. Buzz

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Ciao, Abarth 600e: hot Italian SUV arrives in the UK

By

John Redfern

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March 17, 2025

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After almost a year of waiting, the Abarth 600e electric SUV has finally arrived in UK dealerships.

The most powerful production car in the Italian marque’s long history, the new 600e is also Abarth’s second fully electric vehicle.

In limited edition Scorpionissima trim – as pictured here – the Abarth 600e uses a 280hp electric motor. The standard model delivers 240hp.

The Scorpionissima can accelerate from 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds, while the regular 600e requires 6.2 seconds for the same sprint. Both cars have a top speed of 124mph.

No sting in the tail

Despite the strong performance available, the 600e is capable of covering up to 207 miles when fully charged.

Earlier this year, Abarth announced the 600e would receive a price cut before it even went on sale. The company slashed £2,100 from the list price of the 600e Scorpionissima, bringing it down from £41,975 to £39,875.

This saving means the Abarth 600e Scorpionissima avoids the ‘expensive car supplement’ for vehicle excise duty (VED – also known as road tax).

Those buying a new 600e Scorpionissima will therefore only pay VED of £195 a year, instead of being stung for £620 during the first five years of ownership.

Making a statement

Standard specification for the Abarth 600e includes performance upgrades such as Alcon brakes, a JKET Torsen mechanical limited-slip differential and suspension tuned by Stellantis Motorsport.

Big-bolstered Sabelt seats are found inside, along with a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen that offers dedicated performance pages. A two-spoke steering wheel with a flat bottom is fitted, too.

The Abarth 600e comes in a selection of bold paint colours, including Acid Green, Antidote White, Shock Orange and Venom Black.

Going for the flagship Scorpionissima means a choice between Acid Green or the exclusive Hypnotic Purple.

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Renault 5 Turbo 3E blasts back as outrageous ‘mini supercar’

By

John Redfern

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March 17, 2025

0

One of the most iconic hot hatchbacks of the 1980s will make a dramatic return as a ‘true electric pocket rocket’.

The Renault 5 Turbo 3E is a very deliberate homage to the original rally-bred, mid-engined 5 Turbo, but with a thoroughly modern take on performance.

Renault CEO Fabrice Cambolive explained: “By creating the new category of electric ‘mini supercars’ with the Renault 5 Turbo 3E, the Renault brand once again demonstrates the passion and spirit of boldness and innovation that has always driven it.

“With this car, Renault continues to make electric vehicles ever more desirable, further extending its ability to provide solutions for every need and every desire.”

A rapid nostalgia trip

Glance at the images of the Renault 5 Turbo 3E, and you could be forgiven for thinking this is another example of an electrified, classic-based restomod.

In fact, Renault has crafted a bespoke version of its new Renault 5 E-Tech EV, extending the wheelbase and shifting the windscreen rearwards.

Unlike the regular Renault 5, the Turbo 3E comes in three-door form, with a beefy roll cage found where you’d find the back seats in the regular hatchback.

The new platform supports a rear-wheel-drive layout, with Renault using in-wheel motors to transfer power to the road.

Drift action included

Powered by a 70kWh battery pack that should offer an official range of nearly 250 miles, the Renault 5 Turbo 3E uses lightweight materials to achieve a kerb weight of 1,450kg.

With the peak output of 540hp, the 3E should be able to accelerate from 0-62mph in just 3.5 seconds, and reach a top speed in excess of 165mph. A steering wheel-mounted button allows for an extra overtaking power boost.

Alpine engineers have been involved in tuning the suspension, and there are a variety of driving modes – Snow, Regular, Sport and Race – offered for a good measure. A ‘drift-assist’ feature and the prominent, rally-style vertical handbrake suggest Renault wants the Turbo 3E to go sideways on demand.

An 800-volt electric architecture means the 5 Turbo 3E can recharge from 15 to 80 percent in just 15 minutes when connected to a 350kW public charger.

Retro-futuristic inside and out

The interior of the Renault 5 Turbo 3E is no less dramatic than its exterior, thanks to the pair of bucket seats clad in Alcantara, plus the use of carbon fibre for key components.

A 10.1-inch digital instrument panel deliberately harks back to the square dials of the Renault 5 Turbo from the 1980s, while a second touchscreen operates the modern infotainment system.

Customers will be able to tailor the cabin to their own personal taste, with different finishes available for the seats, dashboard, door panels and centre console.

Along with classic exterior colours such as Rouge Grenade, as seen on the original Renault 5 Turbo, buyers have the chance to design a bespoke livery.

Get ready to place your order

Despite looking like a flight-of-fancy concept car, Renault is completely serious that the Turbo 3E will become a reality.

Production will be capped at just 1,980 examples, a number deliberately chosen to honour the year in which the original Renault 5 Turbo was launched.

Although Renault has made no mention of pricing, it notes that the ‘dealers who reserve the car will participate in its pre-financing’, suggesting that deposits being placed will ensure the Turbo 3E gets made.

Each of the 1,980 cars will be individually numbered, and customers can reserve a specific number when order books open in the coming weeks.

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New Renault 5 E-Tech Roland-Garros doesn’t make a racket

By

John Redfern

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March 14, 2025

0

Renault has revealed the first special edition of its new electric supermini. The Renault 5 E-Tech only went on sale earlier this year, but the French brand has wasted no time in creating a commemorative model.

Named after the famous venue for the French Open tennis championship, the 5 E-Tech Roland-Garros was first revealed as a concept car back in 2023.

It introduces a host of design changes and extra equipment to the award-winning compact EV.

New balls, please

You could be forgiven for associating another French brand, Peugeot, with the Roland-Garros tennis championship.

Peugeot was previously an official sponsor for the event, and created a host of special editions themed around it. This partnership ended in 2022, when Renault became a new ‘premium partner’ for the French Open.

Marking the tennis-inspired Renault 5 E-Tech out from other models is the Cross of Saint Andrew on the base of the front doors, which incorporates the Roland-Garros logo.

Buyers can choose from Arctic White, Midnight Blue or Diamond Black paint colours, plus the exclusive matte shade of Shadow Grey – none of which seem particularly reminiscent of tennis…

A satin chrome roof line and a set of bespoke 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels are also included.

Aiming to be a smash

Things take a more obvious Roland-Garros turn on the inside. Details include a gear lever inspired by the grip of a tennis racket, and a clay-coloured wireless smartphone charger in the centre console.

More clay-coloured detailing (in honour of the clay courts at Roland-Garros) can be found on the carpet mats, while the satin metal-trimmed dashboard features a backlit Roland-Garros graphic.

Based on the Comfort version of the Renault 5 E-Tech, the Roland-Garros is equipped with a 52kWh battery and 150hp electric motor. Fully charged, it offers a range of up to 252 miles.

Available to order now for Renault R Pass customers, prices for the 5 E-Tech Roland-Garros start from £29,995.

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1 in 3 cars on UK roads is now an automatic

By

Richard Aucock

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March 14, 2025

0

Close-up of a modern car gear selector with buttons for Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive, and B modes, featuring a sleek metallic design.

The number of automatic cars on UK roads has risen by 118 percent in a decade – and autos now make up almost one in three cars in use.

The statistic is a stark contrast to a little over a decade ago. Back in 2014, automatics comprised only 16.3 percent of the cars on Britain’s roads.

This means the number of automatics has increased from 7.1 million to more than 15.5 million in just a decade.

The number of manual cars has only increased by 2.4 percent, from 36.6 million to 37.5 million.

Automotive data specialist CAP HPI says the volume of automatics has increased ‘exponentially’ every year since 2014 – while manual numbers have fallen for the past five years.

Last year, more than 1.5 million new automatic cars were registered, a near-tripling of 2014’s 538,000 cars.

Manual cars, meanwhile, have plummeted during the last decade, from 708,000 in 2014 to a mere 274,000 last year.

Brands that are among the automatic leaders include Kia, which accounts for 5.1 percent of all automatic registrations, Land Rover with 4.0 percent and MG with 3.9 percent.

Automatic appeal

A white Mercedes SUV drives on a rural road with blurred motion, surrounded by trees and overcast skies, license plate 243 MBC.

“Changing driving habits, especially in congested urban areas, have made automatics more appealing to drivers,” said CAP HPI senior data director Stacey Warn.

“Advances in technology over the past decade have also greatly improved automatic transmissions’ efficiency and responsiveness.

“The rise in popularity of EVs, which are always automatic, has significantly contributed to the increasing shift towards automatics over manual.”

Car makers have responded by reducing manual gearbox line-ups – with some big brands eliminating them entirely.

What’s more, growing numbers of new drivers are opting for automatic-only driving licences. In 2022, there were 550,000 drivers with auto-only licenses; by 2022, this had more than doubled to over 1.1 million.

“Estimates suggest that by next year, a quarter of learners will qualify with a license limited to automatic cars only,” added Warn.

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