New 1,064hp Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 ‘to cost just £143,000’

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January 16, 2025

Production of the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 begins later this year – and the flagship American sports car could be the performance bargain of the decade.

Chevrolet has confirmed prices in the United States for the new 1,064hp ZR1, which is the most powerful road-going Corvette ever created.

However, the eighth-generation mid-engined Corvette is also produced by Chevrolet in right-hand drive form, meaning a UK version of the ZR1 could be on the cards.

Even with its steering wheel on the ‘wrong’ side, though, the ZR1 looks an attractive supercar proposition. Certainly, little comes close in terms of horsepower per pound (or dollar).

Bugatti speed, Chevrolet money

Getting behind the wheel of the Corvette ZR1 coupe in base 1LZ trim will require $174,995 in the United States: equivalent to just £143,000.

This gives buyers access to a twin-turbocharged 5.5-litre LT7 flat-plane crank V8. Its headline outputs are 1,064hp and 828lb ft of torque.

With an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, the Corvette ZR1 can reach a top speed of 233mph. This gives it the title of the fastest car ever built by an American manufacturer.

Accelerating from 0-60mph takes 2.5 seconds in the Corvette ZR1, although this can be reduced to just 2.3 seconds with the optional ZTK Performance Package. A standing quarter-mile sprint requires 9.6 seconds – quicker than a Bugatti Veyron.

Making supercars look silly

The Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 1LZ comes equipped with carbon-ceramic brakes, a carbon fibre roof and carbon body kit, and a built-in performance data recorder.

Moving to the range-topping 3LZ lifts the price to $184,995 (£151,500), but brings extra leather for the cabin, GT2 specification seats, wireless phone charging and a 14-speaker Bose audio system.

For comparison, the new Lamborghini Temerario (with a paltry 920hp) costs from £260,035. And the 1,000hp Ferrari SF90 Stradale will set you back £379,225.

Chevrolet will begin accepting orders for the Corvette ZR1 from North American customers next month. Demand is expected to exceed supply, such is the performance on offer.

Production will begin in the second quarter of 2025 at Chevrolet’s Bowling Green assembly plant in Kentucky.

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New Vauxhall ‘Electric All In’ offer cuts cost of driving an EV

By

John Redfern

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January 15, 2025

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Vauxhall has announced a range of new offers for 2025, designed to make life easier for those switching to an electric car.

The Vauxhall ‘Electric All In’ package will replace the company’s existing ‘Plug & Go’ offer. It includes benefits such as free charging and roadside assistance.

Vauxhall has already made substantial price cuts to its electric models, slashing thousands from the cost of Corsa, Astra and Grandland EVs during 2024.

Eight years of breakdown cover

Those buying a new Vauxhall still benefit from 10,000 miles of credit for free home charging, made possible with an Octopus Energy Intelligent electricity tariff.

Customers also receive a £500 contribution towards an Ohme home charging wallbox. Alternatively, the £500 can be used for public charging credit at Tesco stores, or with Octopus Electroverse.

The most significant addition for the Electric All In offer is extended roadside assistance. Compared to the three years offered with Vauxhall’s previous Plug & Go deal, breakdown cover has now been increased to eight years.

Included with this is emergency charging support. This allows drivers to charge their car at the roadside or be recovered to the nearest charging point, should they run out of battery power.

Making EV ownership ‘worry-free’

Vauxhall also includes a six-month subscription to Connect Plus, accessible through the MyVauxhall phone app. This allows access to live navigation and real-time traffic information, plus the ability to remotely check and manage the car’s battery levels.

James Taylor, managing director at Vauxhall, commented: “We’re committed to making electric driving accessible, convenient and worry-free. The new Electric All In offer reflects this commitment by giving our EV customers extended peace of mind and increased charging benefits.

“Whether it’s our extended roadside assistance or the addition of 10,000 miles of free home charging, we’re ensuring our customers enjoy a seamless transition to electric driving.”

The Electric All In package is available now on new Vauxhall models, including the recently launched Frontera SUV.

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New Aston Martin Vantage Roadster will be ready for the summer

By

John Redfern

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January 15, 2025

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Aston Martin seems to be on a roll at present, with a raft of new and updated sports cars launched during the past 12 months.

Following in the tyre tracks of the mid-engined Valhalla hypercar, limited-edition Valiant and new V12 Vanquish, the latest arrival from this British marque is the 2025 Vantage Roadster.

Based on the Vantage coupe we drove last summer, the al fresco Vantage boasts more power than ever before – and has been ‘engineered for real drivers’, promises Aston Martin.

Vantage drops its top

‘Real drivers’ will be delighted to know that the twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 from the Vantage coupe has made the transition to the Roadster.

An extra 155hp versus its predecessor endows the new Vantage Roadster with 665hp, alongside 590lb ft of torque. This allows for 0-62mph in 3.6 seconds – 0.1 seconds slower than the coupe – plus an identical top speed of 202mph.

Further upgrades include an electronically controlled rear differential, responsible for transferring all that power to the road. An eight-speed ZF paddle-shift automatic transmission comes as standard, too.

Aston Martin developed both versions of the Vantage in parallel, but each received bespoke chassis tuning. The Vantage Roadster comes with Bilstein DTX adaptive dampers, which have been recalibrated to account for its added weight.

A ‘no compromise’ convertible

The Vantage Roadster makes use of a Z-folding fabric soft-top, said to be the fastest-opening electric roof on the market. Dropping the car’s top takes just 6.8 seconds, and can be done at speeds of up to 31mph.

The roof, along with additional chassis bracing and rollover protection, adds a modest 60kg to the weight of the Roadster. Simon Newton, director of vehicle performance at Aston Martin, says there has been “no compromise upon removal of the roof”.

On the inside, the Vantage Roadster is the latest model to feature Aston Martin’s proprietary infotainment system. Developed in-house, the 10.25-inch central display was described as possibly ‘the biggest improvement Aston Martin has made’ when our Tim Pitt drove the Vantage in 2024.

Here comes the sun

Personalising the Vantage Roadster will be a key part of the buying process for many customers, with three new paint colours – Iridescent Sapphire, Satin Iridescent Sapphire and Bronze Flare – all now available.

The bespoke ‘Q by Aston Martin’ service is offered for those who want to go further, including a choice of nine different alloy wheel designs and six paint options for the brake calipers.

No prices have been announced for the Roadster yet, but expect to pay a premium of at least £15,000 on top of the £165,000 asked for a ‘standard’ Vantage.

Production of the Vantage Roadster will begin in the second quarter of 2025, which should see the first deliveries timed perfectly for summer driving fun.

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World’s most remote EV charger installed on tiny British island

By

John Redfern

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January 14, 2025

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Located 1,200 miles from the south-west coast of Africa, the British Overseas Territory of St Helena is remote in the extreme.

Thanks to being so isolated, however, St Helena has been chosen to host a new public charging trial for electric vehicles.

Subaru UK and Norwegian electric vehicle charger brand Easee are collaborating with St Helena’s government to test whether zero-emissions motoring can work in such a distant location.

With a population of just over 4,400 people, St Helena currently has just four electric vehicles on the island. None of these feature the latest EV technology, however, which is where Subaru’s contribution comes in.

Charging into the extreme

A Subaru Solterra SUV was transported to the island on the regular monthly supply ship. Given St Helena’s rugged terrain, it already has a number of enthusiastic Subaru owners, helping the Solterra fit right in.

Easee Charge installed a new charging device in Jamestown, the capital of St Helena, next to the island’s museum.

At present, St Helena uses a wind farm and solar panels to produce 25 percent of its electricity. The rest comes from a diesel power station, using fuel shipped from South Africa. By 2028, the island aims to have 80 percent of its electricity generated from renewable sources.

During the two-month trial, the Subaru Solterra covered around 50 miles per day, taking in the island’s network of tight and twisty roads. The mountainous terrain allowed for plenty of regenerative braking, meaning just 20 percent of the battery charge was used each day.

Start of a new island network

Following the trial, the Easee charging point will remain on the island, as part of a plan to install more devices for St Helena residents and visitors.

“We’re excited to be a partner in this project to bring in an electric car and an electric charger and to install it as a public charging station in the remotest place in the world,” says Mark Brooks, St Helena’s minister for treasury and economic development.

“The next step is to roll out the infrastructure, so that we are using electric vehicles more and more on the island. There are a lot of diesel and petrol vehicles primarily, and we want to change that behaviour and start to use more electric vehicles.”

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Tesla sales overtake Audi for first time

By

Richard Aucock

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January 13, 2025

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Tesla global new car sales surged past Audi for the first time in 2024, despite the American electric car brand delivering fewer cars than expected.

With 1.79 million vehicles sold in 2024, Tesla deliveries declined one percent versus 2023.

However, Audi sales fell by a much greater amount, reports Bloomberg. A 12 percent decline saw the German company register 1.67 million vehicles last year.

Audi sales down worldwide

Audi sales fell in key markets including Germany, China and North America. Sales of electric Audis also fell by eight percent, to around 164,000 vehicles.

Audi electric car sales decreased by an eye-watering 33 percent in Germany. In the UK, meanwhile, overall Audi registrations fell by 11 percent.

Audi blamed challenging economic conditions, an intense market environment and limited availability of parts.

CEO Gernot Dollner said 2024 was “part of a transitional phase as we move towards our new product portfolio. Customers can look forward to numerous new plug-in hybrids as well”.

Tesla Model Y is best-selling EV

The Tesla Model Y continues to be one of the world’s best-selling cars, as well as the best-selling electric car of all.

The company hopes to further assert its position in 2025 with the launch of a heavily-revised Model Y, codenamed Juniper.

Meanwhile, in the premium car league, BMW remains the world’s best-selling luxury brand, with 2.2 million deliveries.

BMW also delivered nearly 370,000 electric cars, an 11.6 percent improvement and more than double the EV deliveries of Audi.

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Mazda 6e revealed: sleek electric hatch will take on Tesla Model 3

By

John Redfern

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January 13, 2025

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Mazda has pulled the wraps off its new flagship EV, revealing the electric Mazda 6e at the Brussels Motor Show.

The replacement for the Mazda 6, which was discontinued in the UK during 2023, the 6e will be offered solely with electric powertrains.

It marks a dramatic move for the Japanese marque, which has been cautious to embrace EVs thus far. At present, only the Mazda MX-30 compact crossover is sold in Europe with battery power – alongside a plug-in hybrid R-EV version

The 6e is pitched as the Mazda’s mainstream alternative to executive EVs such as the Tesla Model 3 and BMW i4.

Mazda design meets battery power

While the choice of powertrain represents a shift in direction for Mazda, the styling of its new EV is instantly recognisable. The familiar ‘Kodo’ design language has been applied to a sleek, five-door fastback.

Said to offer the ‘sporty and stylish’ silhouette of a coupe with the ‘functionality of a five-door hatchback’, the Mazda 6e is certainly be a striking addition to the EV market. An illuminated front grille, aerodynamic 19-inch alloy wheels and an extendable rear spoiler are some of the design details.

On the inside, highlights include a floating centre console, a substantial 14.6-inch touchscreen and a 10.2-inch digital instrument panel. An augmented-reality head-up display is available, too.

Just two trim levels will be offered for the Mazda 6e: Takumi and Takumi Plus. Takumi models will come with beige or black artificial leather, while Takumi Plus brings premium tan Nappa leather to the interior.

A range of battery options

The Mazda 6e has a choice of two battery options, both of which send their power to the rear wheels.

The entry-level version uses an 68.8kWh battery, delivering a range of up to 300 miles. Compatible with 200kW DC rapid charging, it can be replenished from 10 to 80 percent in 22 minutes.

An output of 258hp sees this smaller-battery model accelerate from 0-62mph in 7.6 seconds.

For a longer range, an 80kWh battery offers the potential for up to 345 miles when fully charged. Offsetting the bigger battery is a slight decrease in power to 245hp, which lengthens the 0-62mph time to 7.8 seconds.

Responding to consumer demand

Jeremy Thomson, managing director of Mazda UK, said: “In the UK we are facing some unique and complex challenges in the balance between EV legislation and consumer demand. But at Mazda we will introduce new models and ensure our product range fits the pace of actual consumer demand in the UK, with technologies that are amongst the best in the market.

“When it arrives in UK showrooms in 2026, the Mazda 6e will be a fantastic and timely addition to our multi-solution approach that includes mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery electric offerings.”

The Mazda 6e will be launched in left-hand drive for European markets later this year, before arriving in the UK during the first half of 2026. Prices and final specifications will be confirmed closer to the on-sale date.

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Americans can now buy a new Hyundai on Amazon

By

John Redfern

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January 12, 2025

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The partnership between Hyundai and retail giant Amazon has stepped up a gear in America, with shoppers now able to order a car via the website.

Buyers in the 54 eligible regions of the United States can add a new Hyundai to their shopping basket. The process should be almost as simple as ordering anything else sold by Amazon.

The collaboration between Hyundai and Amazon started in 2018, when the retailer began offering a space to showcase the South Korean marque’s range of cars on its website.

Moving to a direct ‘click to buy’ ordering process makes for a major leap in this relationship, however.

Add a car to your basket

The dedicated Amazon Autos section of the website will allow customers to explore the Hyundai models for sale at their local dealership.

Being able to refine their chosen car by model, colour and powertrain, customers can then view available options for finance, or for buying their Hyundai outright.

An instant valuation of their current car, along with a trade-in value, can also be requested via the Amazon Autos website. Customers then go through a checkout process to complete their purchase.

‘We’re going to need a bigger box‘

Sadly, there is no Amazon Prime next-day delivery when it comes to buying a Hyundai. Instead, customers will arrange a date and time to collect their chosen car from a local dealership.

As a bonus, however, that does mean no worries about how to dispose of a car-sized cardboard box.

Hyundai and Amazon will continue to expand the regions served by their Autos partnership, along with adding new finance options.

Last year saw Hyundai UK launch a new digital car hub with Amazon, allowing interested customers to find out more about the marque’s model range. At present, though, there are no plans to bring the Amazon experience to car buyers on this side of the Atlantic.

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Can you drive an MOT fail car if the previous test has not expired?

By

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

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January 12, 2025

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Driving your car after it has failed an MOT could lead to three penalty points on your driving licence, a £2,500 fine and even a driving ban. However, it is permitted in certain circumstances.

Government guidelines on this topic have changed over the years, but the current rules are as follows.

If your car fails the MOT test before the previous MOT certificate has elapsed, you can drive it away – but only if the none of the faults are classed as ‘dangerous’ and the minimum standards of roadworthiness are met.

The GOV.UK website explains these minimum standards. They include requirements that all lights are working, brakes are fully functional and tyres have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm. Incidentally, the windscreen, windows and mirrors must also be clean.

MOT stations can’t keep your car

Whether your car passes or fails the MOT, the testing garage or dealership has no right to detain the vehicle, even if it fails on a dangerous fault.

Speaking with an operative at the DVSA, we were told: “No MOT station can impound a car, even if they find a dangerous defect. You are within rights to get the car towed elsewhere for work”.

However they went on to stress that: “It’s a grey area regarding dangerous and non-dangerous defects. Ultimately, if you drive the car away and something happens, you are still liable”.

Just to reiterate, the DVSA website states: ‘You can be fined up to £2,500, be banned from driving and get three penalty points for driving a vehicle that has failed its MOT because of a “dangerous” problem’.

Our advice is to get any remedial MOT work done there and then at the garage, if possible. Alternatively, you could have the car towed – rather than driving it – if there is any doubt about its legality.

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Drive this virtual BMW and you could win a trip to Le Mans

By

John Redfern

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January 11, 2025

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Armchair racers could find themselves heading to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, thanks to a free update for the Forza Motorsport video game.

The next five weeks have been designated as ‘BMW Month’ on the popular Microsoft Xbox and PC racing title.

The promotion will see numerous iconic cars from the German marque’s back-catalogue added to a virtual showroom.

In addition, a number of new challenges and events will be introduced into the game, covering both single-player career mode and online multi-player competition.

A shot at Le Mans glory

The biggest draw for players in Update 16 for Forza Motorsport is the opportunity to win an expenses-paid trip to the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race in France, courtesy of BMW.

To be in with a chance of heading to the Circuit de la Sarthe, gamers need to get behind the virtual wheel of the 2023 #25 BMW Team RLL M Hybrid V8 race car.

Simply completing 15 laps of the Daytona International Speedway circuit with the BMW M Hybrid V8, then registering on a dedicated website, is enough to enter the competition.

Open now, the promotion runs until 12 February 2025. Winners will receive flights to Le Mans, accommodation and, most importantly, tickets for the legendary 24-hour race.

Iconic M-car classics

Along with the opportunity to win a trip to Le Mans, Update 16 adds an array of BMW vehicles that were previously unavailable in the current Forza Motorsport.

Along with the BMW Team RLL M Hybrid V8 racer, the update brings V10 power in the shape of the 2009 BMW M5, along with the 2010 BMW M6 coupe.

Other M-badged additions include the 2008 BMW M3, plus the iconic E39-generation BMW M5 from 2003 – and even a 2020 Formula Drift BMW M2.

Players can also unlock the 1976 BMW 3.0 CSL and the 2023 BMW Turner Motorsports M4 GT3. Both are available as rewards for completing two new ‘Tours’ in career mode.

Motorsport evolution in progress

A total of five BMW-themed multi-player competitions will be offered, with a new event becoming available each week. There are a variety of new challenges for offline play, too.

Forza Motorsport developer, Turn 10, also notes that Update 16 will see players receive a free Mobil 1 50th Anniversary Gold Livery to use with the 2023 Cadillac Racing #01 V-Series.

Further changes been made to revert three race circuits to their original branding, along with adjusting the audio settings for the 2021 Porsche 911 GT3 and 2002 Ferrari Enzo.

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Renault 5 is European Car of the Year 2025

By

Richard Aucock

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January 10, 2025

0

The Renault 5 has been named European Car of the Year 2025, winning by a big margin over the other six finalists.

The reborn Renault 5 E-Tech Electric scored a huge 353 points from the 60 jurors. This was well clear of the Kia EV3 in second place on 291 points.

The Citroen C3 and e-C3 were third on 215 points.

It continues a remarkable run of form for Renault, which last year scooped the Car of the Year 2024 gong with its electric Scenic.

The Renault 5 officially shares the prize with the sporty Alpine A290. This is the hot hatch variant of the new R5 EV.

Surprisingly, the Dacia Duster – recently named AUTOBEST Best Buy Car of Europe 2025 – only ended up fourth, on 172 points. It was just four points ahead of the Hyundai Inster.

The Cupra Terramar was sixth, on 165 points, with the Alfa Romeo Junior last on 136 points.

Renault’s victory makes it on the second time in the 62-year history of Car of the Year that a brand has taken the top prize two years in a row.

The last time was in 1995 and 1996 with the Fiat Punto and Fiat Bravo.

Notably, most of the 2025 finalists were all-electric – and all of them had at least some degree of electrification, such as hybrid or plug-in hybrid engines.

Car of the Year 2025 results

1: Renault 5 / Alpine A290 – 353 points

2: Kia EV3 – 291 points

3: Citroen C3 / e-C3 – 215 points

4: Dacia Duster – 172 points

5: Hyundai Inster – 168 points

6: Cupra Terramar – 165 points

7: Alfa Romeo Junior – 136 points

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