The Toyota bZ4X electric SUV is proving a huge hit with Uber drivers, thanks to a new partnership between the two companies.
Launched 10 weeks ago, the Uber Driver Scheme has already seen more than 1,000 examples of the bZ4X purchased by drivers for the app-based taxi service.
In addition, Toyota has amassed more than 75,000 unique visits to its dedicated new Uber Driver Scheme website, demonstrating the level of interest in the car.
Zero percent finance on a bZ4X
Toyota has developed a new vehicle financing scheme that is tailored specifically tailored to Uber owner-drivers.
They can use Toyota or Lexus Hire Purchase finance options with zero percent APR representative, and for a contract duration of up to 60 months.
The dedicated Toyota Uber Driver Scheme website includes a step-by-step guide to the finance process, along with details of all the company’s vehicle options.
However, there is a particular focus on promoting the bZ4X electric SUV, with Uber providing additional support for drivers who choose it.
Up to 10 years of warranty cover
The Toyota bZ4X is available with a choice of two electric powertrains. The front-wheel-drive model offers an official, fully charged range of 317 miles.
A standard Toyota warranty sees the bZ4X covered for up to 10 years or 100,000 miles (dependent on annual servicing at a Toyota dealer). The lithium-ion battery has its own separate cover, and is guaranteed to retain at least 70 percent of its capacity for 10 years or 620,000 miles.
Neil Broad, general manager at Toyota Fleet Services, said: “The response to our new programme with Uber has been exceptional. We have a well-established, successful relationship with Uber, both here in the UK and globally, and we share a commitment to providing mobility for all. With our new Uber Driver Scheme, we are helping Uber progress its ambition to become a 100 percent electric vehicle business.”
Porsche is celebrating the end of 911 Dakar production with a one-off ‘Sonderwunsch’ special edition.
First unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show in 2022, the radical, off-road-capable 911 Dakar became the biggest talking point at the event.
Despite a huge amount of customer interest, Porsche capped production of the high-riding sports car to 2,500 examples.
Appropriately, the 911 Dakar is going out on a high, with a one-off model personalised to the exact specification of its new Italian owner.
A unique exterior livery
Porsche’s Sonderwunsch (special wishes) department was responsible for creating this eye-catching 911 Dakar, including its unique triple-tone paint job.
The process started with the commissioning owner specifying the Rallye Design package. This usually pays tribute to the livery on the Rothmans-sponsored Porsche 953, which won the Paris-Dakar Rally in 1984.
For this bespoke 911, however, Signal Yellow and Gentian Blue Metallic were chosen for the contrasting body colours.
Between them is a thin painted blue line. This is actually a new hue, named Lampedusa Blue after the Mediterranean island near Italy, and developed in collaboration with the Porsche’s owner.
Not so mellow yellow
Signal Yellow makes a further appearance on the spokes of the Dakar’s alloy wheels, while Lampedusa Blue outlines the rims.
The same blue colour appears on the rings surrounding the LED Matrix headlights, while the owner has specified the front and rear stainless steel skid plates in black.
Yellow is the dominant theme inside the final 911 Dakar: used for the dashboard trim strips and stitching for the leather upholstery. Porsche’s Speed Yellow is found on the gear selector for the eight-speed PDK transmission, along with the model name embroidered on the headrests.
Beneath its bespoke body, the 911 Dakar is mechanically unaltered. This means a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre flat-six engine serving up 480hp and 420lb ft of torque. Combined with suspension raised by 50mm, it makes the Porsche more than capable of off-road action.
When MR’s Tim Pitt tested the Dakar in 2023, he commented: ‘Ploughing through knee-deep muddy ruts and wading through water holes feels incongruous – even slightly absurd – in a 911, but you can’t fail to be impressed by the Dakar’s sheer breadth of ability’.
It remains to be seen if the owner of the final 911 Dakar will be brave enough to get his special hand-painted livery dirty.
Before it ventures out, the final Dakar will be on display in the foyer of the Porsche Museum, following a special handover event at the Zuffenhausen factory.
Jaguar’s radical new electric four-door GT has hit UK roads for the first time this week, as the British company boldly reinvents itself as a luxury EV brand.
The first prototypes are taking to public roads around the Midlands after ‘tens of thousands of miles of virtual and physical testing have already been completed’.
The camouflaged car will also now be tested globally, including winter tests in the Arctic Circle.
While the disguise doesn’t give much away, it is immediately apparent the new electric car will have very different proportions to the firm’s current EV: the I-Pace.
Inspired by classic Jaguars
Instead of that car’s cab-forward design, Jaguar has adopted a classic, long-bonnet profile made famous by icons such as the E-Type.
In profile, it looks a very sleek machine, with an extra-long wheelbase and a low roofline. Large alloy wheels are another standout feature.
The new Jaguar four-door GT’s retractable door handles can just be seen behind the disguise, as can the EV charging port behind the right-hand-side front wheelarch.
The rear roofline is very well-disguised though, meaning we’ll have to continue guessing what the car’s profile will look like.
Design Vision Concept due next month
It’s the same at the front – while the prototype has an outline of a traditional Jaguar-style grille, it’s not yet clear if this will transfer to the final production car.
We also note the Alfa Romeo-style offset number plate, which would be a nice detail if it did make it to showroom-ready cars…
Jaguar, which is reinventing itself as an all-electric luxury brand from 2025, says its first ‘reimagined’ car will be built in Solihull on a dedicated electric platform called JEA: short for ‘Jaguar Electric Architecture’.
While this car is undergoing testing, we’ll get more clues as to the look of future Jaguars early next month.
The Jaguar Design Vision Concept will be revealed at Miami Art Week on 2 December, and is expected to deliver plenty of clues as to what defines the new Jaguars.
Jaguar will also reveal its new brand identity later this month, as the revival of this storied marque finally starts to gather pace.
British sports car maker Caterham is commemorating the 20th anniversary of its CSR chassis with a special model.
First launched in 2005, the CSR chassis represented the peak of development for the Seven roadster, with a wider track and independent rear suspension.
The limited-edition Seven CSR Twenty will be the first model assembled at Caterham’s new production facility in Dartford, Kent. The 54,000 square-foot factory opened earlier this year.
‘The ultimate point-to-point Seven’
The Seven CSR Twenty represents the first time Caterham has married its 210hp 2.0-litre Ford Duratec engine – as used in the Seven 420 – with the CSR chassis.
Combined with a five-speed manual gearbox, this allows the Seven CSR Twenty to accelerate from 0-60mph in just 3.9 seconds. Revving all the way to 7,900rpm, it has a top speed of 139mph.
Exclusive ‘Vulcan’ 15-inch alloy wheels are fitted, while ventilated front brake discs with four-piston calipers provide the stopping power.
Inboard front and fully independent rear suspension are said to ensure ‘an engaging driving experience’, and allow the ‘ultimate in point-to-point performance’.
A simple kind of luxury
Caterham has lavished the Seven CSR Twenty with extra equipment. Its dashboard is finished in satin green carbon fibre, with unique CSR Twenty dials. You’ll find a premium leather tunnel top, Alcantara gear lever and handbrake gaiters, and a leather-wrapped Momo steering wheel, too.
The seats are trimmed in a combination of leather and Alcantara, with red stitching for good measure. A numbered plaque can be found between the two seats.
A Seven 620R-style nose, LED lighting and a two-tone Union Flag grille also mark out this special edition. Buyers can choose between Kinetic Grey and Dynamic Silver paint finishes.
A proud anniversary present
Just 20 examples of the Seven CSR Twenty will be made for the UK market, priced at a considerable £79,995. Caterham has earmarked a further 20 cars for the United States, too.
Bob Laishley, CEO of Caterham Cars, said: “This is without doubt the most premium Seven we’ve ever built. The interior of the car is a level up from what we’ve produced before, thanks to an array of high-quality materials used throughout.
“When you combine this with the exhilarating and engaging handling of our CSR chassis, this really is a Caterham built for longer distance road trips. It’s a vehicle that truly celebrates 20 years of our CSR chassis and I’m proud to see it being hand-built here in our new Dartford factory.”
The Tesla Supercharger network has been named the best large public EV rapid charger service by UK drivers. The feedback comes from the latest annual satisfaction survey by Zapmap.
Almost 4,000 Zapmap users have provided their opinions on the best and worst electric car charging providers. The public networks were judged on reliability, ease of use, customer support, value for money and payment options.
Zapmap divided its survey results into two categories. The ‘large rapid/ultra-rapid’ category covers networks with more than 300 devices nationwide. Those with between 100 and 300 chargers were placed in the ‘medium rapid/ultra-rapid’ category.
Scoring high for reliability and value
Tesla Superchargers have previously been excluded from Zapmap’s analysis, due to the network being limited solely to Tesla vehicles.
Now numbering some 860 charging devices spread across 80 UK sites, Tesla’s network scored well for reliability, cost and ease of use. Compared to other large networks, Tesla Superchargers were also said to deliver good value for money.
MFG EV Power and Osprey Charging took second and third places respectively in the large network category. At the other end of the scale, GeniePoint was ranked in ninth position.
Fastned is best smaller network
When it comes to the Medium rapid/ultra-rapid category, the Fastned network claimed top honours.
Founded in the Netherlands in 2012, Fastned expanded across Europe and reached the UK in 2019. It now has 26 sites across the country, offering a total of 150 charging devices.
Reliability, ease of use and the payment options offered were what helped Fastned to score so highly. The company received an overall rating of 4.1 out of 5.
Ionity took second place in the medium network category, followed by Applegreen Electric.
Reliability remains key for EV drivers
For those ineligible for the large or medium network categories, Zapmap also offers an ‘up-and-coming’ award based on positive feedback. This saw Sainsbury’s Smart Charge commended, despite only starting its roll-out in January this year.
Melanie Shufflebotham, co-founder and COO at Zapmap, commented: “This year has seen another huge increase in charging provision across the country, particularly for the ultra-rapid (150kW+) chargers and charging hubs. It is fantastic to be able to highlight and celebrate the UK’s best EV charging networks, as chosen by EV drivers.
“A record 17 networks are on the rankings table, and it is clear that reliability in the broadest sense remains key with EV drivers showing appreciation for networks rolling out consistent, reliable charging hubs that provide convenience and charging confidence. Whilst excellent payment options, customer support and ease of use are all highly valued, this year value for money is an increasingly important consideration.”
New research by DS Automobiles finds that almost two thirds (65 percent) of UK motorists who now work from home miss their former commute.
A change in working patterns following the pandemic means many people no longer need to attend offices for work. However, this has impacted drivers in unexpected ways.
Three quarters (75 percent) of those surveyed said they found their commute had helped them manage their work-life balance.
Almost one fifth (18 percent) said they missed the chance to ‘decompress’ during their commute home, while close to a third (29 percent) claimed the drive had allowed them to ‘switch off’ after work.
No more car-share karaoke
The regular commute allowed around one third (30 percent) of those surveyed to take time for themselves. More than half (51 percent) said they missed the chance to listen to the radio or news, and 19 percent admitted the chance to sing out loud was a bonus of commuting.
Notably, more than one-in-five of those questioned for the survey (22 percent) admitted they did not believe they would miss commuting until they actually stopped doing it.
The survey did uncover some benefits of not commuting, though. A quarter (25 percent) said they were now able to spend more time with their family, while 21 percent were able to go to the gym.
One third (33 percent) now break up their day by getting out of the house before work, a similar proportion (32 percent) use any free time gained by not commuting for sleep, while 29 percent scroll through social media.
Time lost to switching off
Jules Tilstone, managing director of DS Automobiles UK, said: “All drivers have struggled to get up early to get to work on time, or have got stuck in traffic, but actually, as the research shows, people are missing that time spent in their car. Whether it’s something as simple as listening to a podcast during the drive, the commute gave people the time to do that and switch off.”
The DS Automobiles survey highlighted the main positives those surveyed took from their daily commute. The top 10 benefits are:
Brabus has been creating its own brand of modified cars since 1977, but few are as extreme – or as downright cool – as the Rocket GTS.
The German tuning company has transformed the latest Mercedes-AMG GT into a machine that blends wild performance and relative practicality in one custom package.
Although its styling may be reminiscent of the classic BMW Z3 M Coupe, the Rocket GTS brings an awful lot more power to proceedings.
Also, unlike the now-classic BMW, Brabus has given the Rocket GTS 2+2 seating, bringing further functionality to this high-powered shooting brake.
A load-lugging supercar
Although Brabus does not reveal the origin of the powertrain inside the Rocket GTS, the fact that it uses a hybrid setup narrows down the possibilities.
The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance seems the likely starting point. In true Brabus fashion, however, the Rocket GTS is far removed from any car made in Stuttgart.
The 796hp twin-turbocharged V8 engine now displaces 4.5 litres, and is mated to an electric motor that sends 204hp to the rear axle. In total, the Rocket GTS packs a colossal 1,000hp and 1,342lb ft of torque into its enlarged hatchback body.
All-wheel drive assists with a 0-62mph time of 2.6 seconds, with top speed limited to 197mph. The hybrid powertrain also means the Rocket GTS can cover 7.5 miles on battery power alone.
Lightweight but luxurious
Brabus has built the new bodywork from carbon fibre, leaving the lightweight material exposed for good measure. All the details were created using CAD technologies and CFD modelling, with time spent in the wind tunnel to ensure the car is slippery at speed.
Brabus doesn’t specify how much luggage the Rocket GTS can hold, but several suitcases seems realistic – judging by the press photos provided.
The rest of the interior has received a suitably lavish makeover, with customers able to tailor their car from an endless range of bespoke finishes.
Brabus has installed its own titanium-tipped exhaust system, with pipes that feature integrated red lighting and carbon fibre surrounds.
There are also Brabus Monoblock P alloy wheels, produced using a special forging and machining technique. Exposed carbon fibre aero blades help channel hot air away from the brakes, while centre-lock fixings add some motorsport style.
As for cost, Brabus has quoted a price tag of €789,000 before German taxes at 19 percent. For potential buyers in the UK, that translates to £779,500 with VAT included.
Brabus will build the Rocket GTS in limited numbers based on customer demand. The ultimate hot hatchback? Frankly, little else even comes close…
Very few UK car buyers actually purchase a car outright, with the vast majority using finance instead. In fact, more than 90 percent now opt for some form of credit rather than paying in full. Nearly half of used cars are purchased using finance, too.
After a long period of very low interest rates, monthly payments have crept up in recent years – and car prices have become notably more expensive, too. Nonetheless, with many people now used to buying on finance, this method of owning a car is here to stay.
In this short guide, we explain the different car finance options you could consider, including Personal Contract Purchase (PCP), Personal Contract Hire (PCH) and leasing. Keep reading to discover which one is right for you.
Which car finance option suits you best?
So, you’ve made the decision to spread the cost of your brand new car. Now you just need to decide on a finance deal – and there really is no catch-all credit type. Some deals are simply leases, where you’re expected to hand the car back at the end. Others give you the option to own the car after a fixed number of payments.
Make sure you know exactly what you are agreeing to, and that you have understood the terms and conditions (i.e. the small print). The interest rate is key. Ensure you know what it is, how that translates into an APR (annual percentage rate) and how much more it will cost you to buy the car on credit.
To help you understand car finance, let’s go through some of the most common options on the market.
Hire Purchase(HP)
In the 20th century, this was Britain’s favourite way to pay for anything, from a cardigan in a catalogue to your next dream car.
A hire purchase agreement simply involves spreading the cost over a pre-agreed period – usually set from 12 months to five years. You’ll pay a fixed rate of interest during that time, but usually only a small deposit upfront.
If you want to keep the car at the end of the term, and it’s assumed you will, you’ll have to pay an admin fee to cover the cost of transferring ownership from the finance company to yourself. Up until that point, you are only the registered keeper, so you can’t modify the car in any way.
Conditional Sale
This agreement is actually the same as a Hire Purchase contract, except you will automatically own the car once the finance has been repaid in full, with no extra final payment.
Personal Contract Hire (PCH)
This is really another term for leasing, as there is no option to buy the car at the end. Your monthly payments will therefore be lower than those on an HP deal.
Payments will also be based on your predicted mileage, however, so expect to pay a penalty if you exceed that. At the end of the term, you simply hand the car back (and perhaps lease a newer one instead).
Personal Contract Purchase (PCP)
The basic premise behind the PCP deal – and its runaway popularity – is that you only pay for the car’s predicted depreciation during the term of your contract. So that’s the difference between the value of the car when new, and its expected value when your deal ends – typically in three years’ time. The latter is often referred to as the Guaranteed Minimum Future Value (GMFV).
Most cars lose around 40 percent of their list price during that period, so a £20,000 car could be worth roughly £12,000 after 36 months. That leaves you £8,000 to pay. Some of that is required upfront as a deposit, and the rest is due in instalments, at a fixed interest rate, for the duration of the contract period. This means the monthly payments are kept relatively low.
At the end of the deal, you’ll have the option to stump up the remaining £12,000 to buy the car in full – often referred to as the balloon payment. Or you may just decide to hand the car back, or indeed swap it for another car and a fresh PCP deal.
On that note, dealers will sometimes set the car’s GMFV deliberately low, so they can offer you a bonus chunk of equity when you come to settle up. But you’ll only be able to access this if you put it towards another finance deal. That’s how the car dealer keeps you on their books, and why so many motorists go back to the same brand again and again.
Let’s not forget, though, that it also means you’ve probably paid more in instalments (and therefore in interest) than you needed to in the first place.
Lease Agreement
This type of Conditional Sale is much the same as a PCP in that you’ll pay a deposit, some instalments and then a balloon payment at the end. The big difference is that buying the car at the end is not optional – you must ensure you have the funds to do that, and you will ultimately own the car at the end.
You can settle the finance and buy the car outright at any point during the term, however.
Personal Loan
Borrowing the money you need to buy a new car outright has its advantages, as you will immediately become the registered owner. You’re not bound by mileage restrictions either, and if you decide to upgrade the stereo or modify the car in any way, you can.
However, a loan is usually unsecured, so you can’t just hand the car back to clear the debt. Instead, you’d have to sell the vehicle, and the depreciation means there would undoubtedly be a shortfall (i.e. the car is worth less than it was financed for).
Credit card
The same advantages apply when you buy using a credit card. But you have the extra protection of Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act (1974). This says that, if even a portion of your car is bought using a credit card, the credit provider is jointly liable for any breach of contract by the retailer. The sum has to be greater than £100, but can even apply to some other types of car finance.
The criteria is quite strict, particularly with regard to the relationship between the credit provider and the supplier, so it’s worth checking whether your contract qualifies.
Car finance: a final thought
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all these options, you could simply take your lead from hundreds of thousands of other new-car buyers every year, and opt for a PCP. These are by far the most popular car credit agreements, accounting for around three out of four new car sales.
Adrian Dally of the Finance and Leasing Association says: “The PCP was introduced into the market by Ford, who brought it over from the States. Its success is due to both to price, and a cultural change in attitudes towards owning assets.”
Whichever product you choose, it’s worth remembering that, while you may have signed the paperwork at your local dealer, your contract is with the finance company. So if there’s a fault with the car itself, and not just the terms of the deal, then it’s the finance company you have to approach.
The good news is that there’s often more security in buying on credit as you have stronger return rights. That includes the 14-day cooling off period outlined in the Consumer Rights Act (2015). So if you change your mind for any reason, the vehicle transfers back to its supplying dealer.
Beyond that, if you’re unhappy with the way a complaint is being handled, you also have the backing of the Financial Ombudsman. Its job is to arbitrate, judge and resolve your case, which is initially assessed by its investigators. If it thinks your complaint is justified, and the dealer still won’t play ball, the case can be referred to an Ombudsman – a higher ranking investigator whose verdict ‘is final, and legally-binding to both parties, should the consumer accept it’.
Again, make sure you know exactly what you’re agreeing to before you sign on the dotted line. If still in doubt, you can find lots more information about car finance at the FLA’s consumer advice website, or visit the Financial Ombudsman’s advice pages for more information about the complaints process.
The Kia Sportage topped the table as the UK’s best-selling new car during October 2024, based on data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT).
Some 4,533 examples of the practical family SUV found new homes last month, helping the Korean brand set a new sales record.
However, the overall SMMT figures for October 2024 showed a substantial drop in new car sales.
Private, fleet and business customers across the UK all purchased fewer vehicles, when compared to the same period in 2023.
Sportage is the UK’s favourite
Kia will be celebrating the fifth-generation Sportage’s success. The SUV is the Korean marque’s top-selling model in the UK and around the world.
The Sportage is now a close second for overall new car sales in 2024, with 42,115 examples shifted this year. That places it just 350 vehicles behind the top-selling Ford Puma.
With 100,936 cars sold already this year, Kia has already broken its previous best record, set in 2022.
Almost half (49 percent) of new Kia models sold in the UK are classed as ‘eco’ models by the company, being either fully electric, a plug-in hybrid or a hybrid.
Ford Puma still ahead
Taking second place in the new car sales chart for October 2024 was the Ford Puma, with 3,521 examples registered.
It was sufficient to retain the Ford’s lead as the best-selling car of 2024, taking its total for the year to 42,465.
The new Mini Cooper took third place for October, being one of only three non-SUVs among the top 10 best-selling cars for the month.
Fourth place was claimed by the Volvo XC40, followed by the Volkswagen Tiguan in fifth.
Overall new car sales slump
Overall new car sales for October 2024 declined by six percent versus the same month in 2023, according to the SMMT, with a total of 144,288 registrations.
The number of petrol and diesel new cars fell by 14.2 percent and 20.5 percent respectively, with hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles also down, by 1.6 percent and 3.2 percent.
Battery-electric vehicles were the only powertrain type to witness an increase in registrations, with a substantial 24.5 percent jump compared to October 2023.
Sales to private customers declined by 11.8 percent, while business registrations were down by 12.8 percent. Fleet buyers posted a slightly smaller decline, with a fall of 1.7 percent.
The new Dacia Spring Cargo has become the cheapest battery-powered van on sale in the UK.
Excluding VAT, the electric van will cost business buyers just £14,995, with the Spring Cargo also eligible for the UK Plug in Van Grant (PiVG) of £2,500.
Monthly costs could start from £149 without VAT, based on a three-year deal with an allowance of 10,000 miles per annum and a deposit of £894. As such, the Spring Cargo could prove attractive to budget-conscious business users.
Business on a budget
To create the van version of the Spring, Dacia has removed the car’s rear seats and fitted a mesh bulkhead.
This results in 1,085 litres of cargo capacity, which can be accessed via the rear doors or hatchback opening. The load area itself can carry a payload of 370kg.
Keeping prices low is Dacia’s use of standard Polar White paint, combined with steel wheels and lots of black plastic exterior trim. It gives the Spring Cargo an air of UN-specification utilitarianism, and is likely to be a useful base for businesses to add their own liveries.
Also keeping prices low is the simple specification. The Dacia Spring Cargo is only available with one battery and in a single trim level.
Low costs, but fully loaded
The 28.6kWh battery is connected to a 65hp electric motor, with the potential to cover up to 140 miles in mixed driving conditions. Using the Spring Cargo in urban areas should boost its range to 186 miles.
Fast charging means the Spring Cargo can be replenished from 20 to 80 percent battery capacity in 45 minutes.
Manual air conditioning, cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, and a rear-view camera are all included. Infotainment is handled by a 10.0-inch touchscreen with navigation and smartphone connectivity.
Like the regular Spring electric SUV, the Spring Cargo can be ordered now from Dacia dealerships, or online via the Dacia website.
