For Fernando Alonso, driving for the Aston Martin Formula One Team certainly has its perks – including a chance to own the British marque’s latest hypercar.
The Aston Martin Valkyrie, built to Alonso’s exacting specification, was delivered to the Spanish driver at the famous Monte Carlo Bay Hotel.
It becomes the latest new Aston Martin to be commissioned by the double Formula One World Champion, having recently been the driving force behind the V12-powered Valiant.
An F1 car for the road
With a hybrid-assisted 6.5-litre V12, the 1,155hp Aston Martin Valkyrie is capable of accelerating from 0-62mph in just 2.5 seconds.
Initially a collaboration between Aston Martin and Red Bull Racing, the Valkyrie is intended to be the closest interpretation of a Formula One car for the road.
Design work was undertaken by Adrian Newey, who if the rumours are correct, could soon be designing Formula One racing cars for Alonso to drive.
Production of the Valkyrie coupe is limited to 150 examples, with around 2,000 hours required to build each one. Alonso’s status in the team will surely have helped to secure one of the limited-edition hypercars, all of which are reportedly sold.
Aston with added Alonso
For his Valkyrie, Alonso chose Satin Aston Martin Racing Green (with contrasting AMR Satin Lime graphics), taking inspiration from his own weekend racer.
The venturi tunnel has red and dark blue highlights, while there is exposed carbon fibre on the roof and engine cover. On the nose cone, the famous Aston Martin logo is rendered in lightweight titanium.
As a finishing touch, a special ’Caution Hot’ graphic has also been applied to the rear of the Valkyrie.
On the inside, Alonso has specified plenty of carbon fibre trim, with black Alcantara upholstery and lime green stitching. The driver’s personal logo appears on the headrests, while the red accelerator pedal features a ’14’, paying homage to his driver number.
Ready to hit the streets
The personalisation of Alonso’s Valkyrie was made possible through the Q by Aston Martin service. This allows for an essentially limitless degree of customisation, creating a truly one-off hypercar.
“It’s hard to put into words how much I have been looking forward to this day,” said Fernando Alonso.
“To sit at the wheel of my own Valkyrie; one that I have worked on designing so closely with the team at Q by Aston Martin, is certainly a day to remember. Valkyrie truly is an F1car for the road, with so much of the knowledge and technology taken from all the experience Aston Martin has on track. I can’t wait to hit the road.”
Orders for the new, third-generation Dacia Duster can be placed now – and the no-nonsense SUV is as competitively priced as ever.
Prices for the latest Duster start from £18,745 in entry-level Essential trim, meaning it remains one of the cheapest ways to get behind the wheel of a brand new SUV.
First revealed as the Bigster concept in 2021, the all-new Duster offers bolder styling and the option of hybrid powertrains, plus a broader range of trim levels.
UK customers will be offered the Dacia Duster with three powertrain options, including the popular TCe 100 Bi-Fuel. Offering 50-litre tanks for both petrol and LPG, the Bi-Fuel has an official range of up to 800 miles.
The Hybrid 140 model is the first Duster to be sold with a full hybrid powertrain. Combining 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with two electric motors, it can average more than 55mpg.
In TCe 130 form, a three-cylinder 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine comes with mild-hybrid assistance, and the option of front- or four-wheel drive.
Choosing a four-wheel-drive version adds a new 4×4 Terrain Control module, with five driving modes to match the conditions. Ground clearance is up to 217mm, while a Hill Descent Control system comes as standard.
From Essential to Extreme
While the entry-level £18,475 Duster Essential is clearly a budget-conscious option, front electric windows, air conditioning, cruise control and rear parking sensors are still part of the package.
Drivers will have to connect their smartphone to the dashboard for media playback, though, and adjusting the side mirrors is a manual affair.
Starting at £21,245, Expression trim adds 17-inch diamond cut alloy wheels, automatic windscreen wipers and a rear parking camera. A 7.0-inch digital instrument panel is combined with a 10.1-inch central display, which features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
Journey trim brings 18-inch alloy wheels, front fog lights, keyless entry, satellite navigation and climate control for £22,945.
Topping the range is the £23,745 Extreme. It wears brown copper side mirrors, modular roof bars and an interior with heated front seats and synthetic leather upholstery.
Available to order now
Dacia’s finance packages make the Duster Essential TCe 100 Bi-Fuel the most attention-grabbing model in the range for those wanting to pay monthly.
Following a £3,187 customer deposit, a 48-month contract with an allowance of 6,000 miles per year will cost £193 per month. The optional final payment (to buy the car outright) is £9,771.
Orders for the new Duster can be placed with Dacia dealerships now, or through the marque’s website. Delivery of the first completed cars is expected in December this year.
For those who want a Defender restomod, but with the official stamp of Land Rover – rather than an aftermarket company – your prayers have been answered.
Land Rover has revealed a reborn Defender V8, as produced by its Classic Works Bespoke department. And the powerful 90 and 110 models offer huge scope for personalisation.
Described as the ‘next chapter in the Land Rover Classic story’, the Defender V8 is built to order, with support from teams in both Coventry and Essen in Germany.
Paul Barritt, director of Land Rover Classic, said: “From start to finish, clients of Works Bespoke will be given an experience like no other, creating their ultimate Classic Defender V8”.
Modern power, old-school style
This is not the first time Land Rover Classic has sold a V8-powered version of the original Defender. Back in 2018, the company produced a limited-run of 150 Defender Works V8 models, priced from £150,000.
More recently, 30 examples of the Defender V8 Islay Edition were made in 2023. This Defender celebrated the Hebredian birthplace of Land Rover company founder, Spencer Wilks.
Like those previous models, the ‘new’ Defender makes use of a 5.0-litre V8 engine that produces 405hp and 380lb ft of torque. An eight-speed ZF automatic transmission is standard, as is the traditional Land Rover four-wheel-drive system. Zero to 62mph takes around 6.0 seconds.
Upgraded Alcon brakes with four-piston callipers are fitted, along with an in-house developed suspension kit. The latter includes Eibach coil springs and anti-roll bars, along with Bilstein dampers.
Unlimited options for customisation
Land Rover Works will offer the Classic Defender V8 in both 90 and 110 station wagon forms. The 90 accommodates four people, while the 110 will be available with five or seven seats.
Customers can pick from Heritage, Contemporary, Premium or SV Metallic colour palettes, along with endless options for exterior personalisation.
Modern LED lights are included as standard, with side steps, expedition roof racks and a front-mounted winch also available. For more extreme adventurers, a roof-mounted tent can be fitted – or even a complete Ply Guys camper conversion.
A luxurious classic Defender
On the inside, the formerly utilitarian Defender can be trimmed in luxurious leather, with five monotone or eight duotone colour options on offer. Buyers can also select from heated ‘Premium’ seats or a racier Recaro alternative.
A Land Rover Classic infotainment system incorporates satellite navigation, Bluetooth and DAB radio, operated through a 3.5-inch touchscreen that helps retain the original dashboard’s look.
Inevitably, owning an official Land Rover Defender restomod will not come cheap. Prices for the 90 start from £228,000, while the 110 requires at least £238,800 (before the inevitable foray into the options list).
An online configurator is available now to help potential customers explore possible specifications. The Classic Defender V8 will make its public debut at the Goodwood Revival meeting this weekend.
More than half of van drivers in the UK are using their handheld mobile phones while on the move, according to a new study.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles commissioned a survey of 1,000 van drivers, questioning them on telephone use behind the wheel.
Shockingly, some 57 percent of those who responded to the survey admitted to physically checking their mobile phone while driving.
This comes despite an update to Regulation 110 of the Road Vehicles Regulations 1986, which bans the use of all handheld devices behind the wheel.
Van drivers most at risk
The findings mean the majority of van drivers are risking a £200 fine, combined with six penalty points on their licence, just for touching a mobile phone.
Of the van drivers surveyed, one in 10 admitted that they would ‘often’ use their phone when driving.
This fits with a recent separate Department of Transport study, which found van drivers were twice as likely to use a mobile phone behind the wheel, compared to those driving all other types of vehicle.
However, Volkswagen’s survey did reveal a seven percent year-on-year fall in van drivers using their phone, down from 64 percent in 2023.
Technology is not the issue
The use of a handheld mobile phone by some drivers is not due to a lack of alternative technology. Almost every respondent (98 percent) said their van is equipped with built-in features to make hands-free phone calls.
Also, 93 percent said that they used this hands-free technology at least once per day, with 82 percent making up to 10 calls daily.
John Ricardo-Neto, head of product planning at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, commented: “While there is still a large number of van drivers ignoring the mobile driving laws at some stage throughout the day, it’s positive to see that van drivers are, for the most part, using hands-free technology while on the road.
“Every new Volkswagen van is packed with useful in-cabin tech such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as the ability of voice control, allowing drivers to maintain their eyes, and focus, on the road at all times.”
Land Rover restoration specialist Kingsley Re-Engineered has unveiled a series of upgraded classic Defender models.
Two Defender restomods have made their public debut at the prestigious Salon Privé car show, held in the grounds of Blenheim Palace.
Oxfordshire-based Kingsley has more than 20 years of experience with restoring the Range Rover Classic, having saved more than 500 examples since 2001.
Now, the company is using that know-how to overhaul and enhance the ever-popular original Land Rover Defender.
Back to bare metal
The market for restomod Defenders is a busy one, with no shortage of companies offering their take on the formula. However, Kingsley says a long history with the marque will help its Defender stand out.
Each vehicle will undergo 1,500 hours of restoration work at Kingsley’s headquarters in Witney (located just a few minutes from Blenheim Palace, in fact). The cars will be stripped back to bare metal, with a 15-stage process returning each one to ‘a brand-new state’.
Buyers can specify a near-endless range of custom colours; a broader palette than Land Rover originally offered. Kingsley uses its own on-site paint shop, too, with the options of ceramic coatings and paint protection film.
On the inside, Recaro seats are fitted in the front of all Kingsley Defenders, with customers able to specify Nappa leather with Alcantara inserts. Further bespoke options include wonderfully retro ‘Spinneybeck’ leather weave seat centres – as in the demo car seen here.
Pick your perfect powertrain
Beneath the restored bodywork, Kingsley offers an array of powertrain options, including V8 petrol engines and a Rover-sourced diesel. The Defender 90 demonstrator makes use of a 4.2-litre ‘high-torque’ V8, producing 220hp and 266lb ft of torque.
Combined with a rebuilt five-speed manual gearbox, this V8 allows the Defender to accelerate from 0-60mph in 9.5 seconds, and reach a top speed in excess of 100mph.
A ‘stage one’ brake kit is fitted as standard, although an upgraded setup is available from the options list. Similarly, the standard suspension can be replaced with Kingsley’s own electronically controlled active dampers.
Roof configurations range from the skimpy ‘bikini’ cover seen on this D90 demonstrator to a full-length canvas – or even a panoramic glass sunroof.
Honouring Defender history
John Sawbridge, managing director of Kingsley Re-Engineered, said of the launch: “Reimagining the Defender is not just about preserving its legacy, but about enhancing it for the modern driver. We take great pride in our meticulous approach to restoration and customisation, ensuring that each vehicle not only honours the past but also embraces the future with innovations and comfort – all while staying true and representative of Kingsley for a new age.”
He added: “Our goal is to deliver a Defender that resonates with the same spirit of adventure and robustness, but with the sophistication and driving dynamics that today’s discerning customers expect.”
Following its unveiling at Salon Privé, Kingsley is now accepting orders for both D90 and D110 versions of its re-engineered Defender, with test drives also on offer.
Prices start from £168,000 including VAT, with an online configurator now live to reveal how your Land Rover could look.
Volkswagen has announced UK prices and specifications for its new ID.3 GTX electric hot hatchback.
Revealed earlier this year, the GTX is the flagship model in the ID.3 range, and will cost from £46,225.
It becomes the latest vehicle in Volkswagen’s ID lineup – which now includes the ID.7 saloon and ID.Buzz MPV – to receive the sporty GTX treatment.
Volkswagen is making bold claims for the ID.3 GTX, saying that it should be considered as the ‘electric counterpart to the Golf GTI Clubsport’.
The electric Volkswagen GTI?
Earlier this year, Kai Grünitz, member of the Volkswagen board in charge of technical development, said: “Of course, an electric drive and a turbocharged petrol engine each have their own unique character. Yet the ID.3 GTX and the Golf GTI Clubsport share the same fascinating lightness when they accelerate.”
The ID.3 GTX certainly has the on-paper power to support Volkswagen’s assertion about its hot hatch credentials.
A total of 326hp, complemented by 402lb ft of torque, allows the rear-wheel-drive GTX to accelerate from 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds. That makes it only 0.1 seconds slower than the recently revised Golf GTI Clubsport.
For the first time in a VW ID model, the GTX’s top speed is not limited. However, a 124mph maximum is still well short of the 155mph achieved by the Clubsport.
Progressive-rate steering and sports suspension featuring Volkwagen’s DCC adaptive dampers are both included as standard.
GTX on sale soon
A 79kWh battery pack means the ID.3 GTX can cover an officially tested range of up to 369 miles. Recharging from 10 to 80 percent takes 26 minutes with a 185kW charging device.
Exterior changes for the GTX include bespoke front and rear bumpers, along with redesigned side sills and a set of 20-inch ‘Skagen’ alloy wheels.
Sports seats, trimmed in a mixture of cloth and leatherette, are found inside. There is also a GTX-specific steering wheel, Harman Kardon sound system and plenty of decorative red stitching.
Prices in the UK start at £46,225, and UK orders can be placed from today: Thursday 29 August 2024.
A Clean Air Zone (CAZ) is defined as an area, usually within a city or urban location, in which targeted action has been taken to improve air quality.
Clean Air Zones aim to address all sources of air pollution, including nitrogen dioxide and particulates, reducing public’s exposure to them. Oxford has recently gone one further by introducing a full Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ) in the city.
Here, we’ll explain the different categories of CAZ, along with what the ZEZ means for Oxford.
Non-charging Clean Air Zones
These are geographic areas, normally city centres, used as a focus for action to improve air quality. The are various measures open to the local authority, but charging a fee for entry into the CAZ isn’t one of them.
Charging Clean Air Zones
These are zones where motorists are required to pay a fee to enter or move within an area if they are driving a vehicle that does not meet a particular ‘Euro’ exhaust emissions standard.
Classes of Clean Air Zones
There are four classes of Clean Air Zone – A, B, C and D – and a local authority can decide what level of restrictions to apply.
Note: Class D is the only CAZ to include cars.
Class A: buses, coaches, taxis and private hire vehicles:
Buses and coaches: Euro 6
Taxis and private hire vehicles: Euro 6 (diesel) and Euro 4 (petrol)
Class B: buses, coaches, taxis, priviate hire vehicles and HGVs:
Buses, coaches and HGVs: Euro 6
Taxis and private hire vehicles: Euro 6 (diesel) and Euro 4 (petrol)
Class C: buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles, HGVs and LGVs:
Buses, coaches and HGVs: Euro 6
Large vans, minibuses, LGVs, taxis and private hire vehicles: Euro 6 (diesel) and Euro 4 (petrol)
Class D: buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles, HGVs, LGVs and cars:
Cars: Euro 4 (petrol), Euro 6 (diesel)
Buses, coaches and HGVs: Euro 6
Large vans, minibuses, LGVs, taxis and private hire vehicles: Euro 6 (diesel) and Euro 4 (petrol)
Motorcycles and mopeds (optional): Euro 3
This is just an overview of the different classes. For a more in-depth description, read the government’s framework.
Where are Clean Air Zones?
A number of cities were required by the government to either reduce air pollution or carry out feasibility studies to determine whether or not a CAZ was required.
Here, we list all the schemes that are currently live or set to go ahead in 2022.
Bath
Bath has introduced a Class C Clean Air Zone, meaning charges only apply to taxis, vans, buses, coaches and HGVs that do not meet the required emission standards. Drivers of private cars and motorcycle riders don’t have to pay, even if using their vehicle for work.
Birmingham
The Birmingham Clean Air Zone went live on 1 June 2021. It covers everywhere within the A4540 Middleway ring road – but not the Middleway itself.
Non-compliant cars, taxis and LGVs will be subject to a daily charge of £8, rising to £50 per day for HGVs, coaches and buses. Failure to pay the charge results in a £120 fine, which is reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.
The City is working with car supermarket Motorpoint to offer those who work within the CAZ a £2,000 scrappage scheme to trade in their non-compliant car.
Bradford is introducing a Class C+ Clean Air Zone in spring 2022. It covers the area inside – and including – the Bradford outer ring road. It also extends out along the Aire Valley corridor to include Shipley and Saltare – here’s a full map of the Bradford Clean Air Zone.
Bristol plans to introduce a Class D Clean Air Zone in summer 2022. The planned charge will be £9 per day for private cars, rising to £100 for coaches and HGVs. Bristol City Council says it will allow drivers of older cars to apply for a one-year exemption from the charge.
Greater Manchester
The Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone goes live on 30 May 2022. It is a Class C Zone. It will be the largest in England, covering 10 areas: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan and the cities of Manchester and Salford.
Greater Manchester leaders are keen to stress private cars, motorbikes and mopeds are not affected by the charge.
Sheffield City Council plans to introduce a Class C Clean Air Zone in late 2022, with polluting HGVs, buses, coaches, LGVs and taxis charged to enter the inner ring road and city centre. The city will not charge drivers of private cars, though, saying: “Private cars make up 80 percent of road traffic, but only contribute 50 percent of the pollution”.
Local authorities in the North East have announced plans for a Tyneside charging CAZ and a Low Emission Zone (LEZ) in Newcastle. They won a court challenge against the schemes, but the process has been delayed by other legal issues.
Further schemes are also expected in Cambridge, York, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen. Watch this space.
Will Clean Air Zones become the norm?
With the government under pressure to improve air quality, other towns and cities are expected to introduce Clean Air Zones or their own interpretations of the schemes. In the future, paying a fee to enter an urban area might become the norm rather than the exception.
Dirty air is linked to 40,000 early deaths every year in the UK, with 70 percent of people urging the government to take action.
What is a Zero Emission Zone?
Oxford is the first UK city to introduce a Zero Emission Zone. A pilot scheme went live on 1 March 2022, with a wider scheme covering the whole city centre due to follow next year.
Only pure electric zero-emission cars can enter the ZEZ, which includes Queen Street and Cornmarket, for free. All other vehicles will be charged between £2 and £10 per day, with automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras used to enforce the zone.
An investigation by Peugeot has revealed the vast amount of money generated by London’s Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).
Since the ULEZ began operation in April 2019, a total of £875 million in revenue has been raised by the scheme.
In August 2023, Transport for London (TfL) expanded the area covered by the ULEZ, which now incorporates all 32 London boroughs. This brought an additional five million people into the ULEZ area of operation, making it the world’s largest clean air zone.
Since the expansion a year ago, TfL has received £226 million in fees and penalty fine payments charged to the capital’s drivers.
Expanded horizons
Drivers of petrol vehicles that do not meet Euro 6 exhaust emissions standards, and diesel vehicles unable to meet the Euro 4 rules, are required to pay a daily fee of £12.50 to enter the ULEZ.
Unlike the London Congestion Charge, the ULEZ operates 24 hours a day, with nine million residents now covered by it. By law, TfL must use all the surplus revenue generated by the ULEZ for investment into local public transport schemes.
The success of London’s ULEZ has led to 12 more Clean Air Zones, Low Emissions Zones or Zero Emissions Zones being established across the UK.
Given the greater number of such zones in operation, Peugeot is offering a £900 discount to key workers on a new electric vehicle, allowing them to avoid daily, emissions-related charges.
Zoning in on revenue
By analysing data from a number of Freedom of Information Act requests, Peugeot has calculated that the UK’s Clean Air Zones have generated a total of £1.044 billion in revenue.
The research also identified the 10 Clean Air Zones that generate the most income in the UK. In descending order, these are:
Hyundai has announced a new partnership with online retail giant Amazon. The aim is to help UK consumers learn more about Hyundai cars and SUVs.
A special ‘brand space’ on the Amazon website and smartphone app will provide information about Hyundai’s history, along with details on its latest models.
Adverts within the Amazon online store will also highlight the Hyundai digital hub to raise its profile and increase the number of visitors.
No Prime delivery just yet
Once inside the Hyundai brand space, users will be able to request a test drive of their preferred vehicle.
For now, UK buyers won’t be able to purchase a car directly through the Amazon platform; a visit to their local Hyundai dealer is still needed.
However, this will change for those resident in the United States later this year. Amazon will allow American customers to configure their Hyundai, arrange finance, then have the completed car sent to a dealership of their choice to collect.
Ashley Andrew, president of Hyundai and Genesis UK, commented: “Our partnership with Amazon underscores Hyundai’s dedication to meeting customers where they are most comfortable. By utilising Amazon’s extensive reach and the trust it has built with consumers, we’re bringing Hyundai closer to our customers, enabling them to explore our brand and vision”.
Hyundai is not the first car manufacturer to enter into a partnership with the global e-commerce company, though.
Back in 2018, Volvo used Amazon to offer test drives of the V40 hatchback, delivering cars directly to the home or workplace.
Alfa Romeo followed suit later the same year, working to promote its then-new Stelvio SUV.
Audi has announced UK prices and specifications for the revised 2024 RS3 Sportback and Saloon models.
The facelift follows the changes previously announced for the related Audi S3, including sharpened styling, revised chassis settings and even a better-smelling interior. Yes, really.
Audi also says the RS3’s trademark five-cylinder turbocharged engine will sound even more sonorous than before.
Five-cylinder soundtrack
Both the Sportback hatch and Saloon versions of the RS3 come with a redesigned front grille, larger side air intakes and daytime running lights with a chequered flag pattern. A new front splitter is said to be reminiscent of the Audi Sport Quattro S1, raced at Pikes Peak in 1987.
The reprofiled rear diffuser incorporates the oval tailpipes of the sports exhaust, which has been optimised to deliver an even throatier noise. Audi says to expect a ‘fuller-bodied sound’ whichever driving mode is selected.
Buyers will be able to pick from exclusive Kyalami Green and Kemora Grey paint colours, along with Ascari Blue and Progressive Red. A matt Daytona Grey is offered in a matt finish for the first time.
Standard RS3 models come with 19-inch Y-spoke alloy wheels, while Carbon Black and Carbon Vorsprung versions use a 10-spoke design.
Drifting action encouraged
Audi Sport’s 2.5-cylinder engine remains unchanged, with 400hp and 369lb ft of torque on offer. Quattro all-wheel drive is standard, of course, combined with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
This allows for a 0-62mph time of 3.8 seconds, plus a top speed of 155mph. Choosing the top-spec Carbon Vorsprung model increases the maximum to 174mph.
A standard torque splitter can shuffle drive between the axles, and works with adaptive suspension dampers to improve the RS3’s agility. Understeer is said to be reduced, and oversteer encouraged – with drivers able to ‘obtain the same drift angle faster’.
New performance displays for the 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and 10.1-inch central touchscreen can show lap times, power output and component temperatures. Motorsport-style gear shift lights are displayed when using the manual paddles, too.
‘The smell of excellence’
A new ‘double-flattened’ steering wheel is fitted, along with RS sports seats that are said to be more supportive. Audi has even analysed the 200 interior components used in the RS3, choosing materials that should make the smell of the Nappa leather more pleasant.
Prices for the Audi RS3 Sportback start from £59,510, with the mid-range Carbon Black version priced at £64,160. The top-specification Carbon Vorsprung will require £68,560.
Opting for the RS3 in four-door Saloon form adds an extra £1,000 to the price. Orders for both versions can be placed from next month.
