Chinese electric car brand BYD has confirmed its UK launch plans, with the first retailers opening in Q1 2023.
BYD is the world’s largest electric car brand: sales topped even Tesla in 2022, with 1.8 million new EVs finding homes around the world.
It is now stepping up its European rollout, with the UK following Norway, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands and Belgium.
Initially, BYD will work with four UK auto retail groups: Arnold Clark, Lookers, LSH and Pendragon.
It has chosen these retailer partners, it says, for their experience, expertise and prime locations. “A vital principle of the BYD strategy is to work with the best partners,” said its EU MD Michael Shu.
BYD Atto 3
BYD will launch in the UK with the Atto 3 compact SUV. It is an EV alternative to the popular MG ZS EV and Kia Niro EV.
It will initially be offered with a generous 60.5kWh battery; BYD says it will announce prices and other product details in the coming weeks.
The BYD Atto 3 made its European debut at the Paris Motor Show last year, and has since gone on to scoop a five-star Europe NCAP crash safety score.
Further new models will roll out later in 2023.
BYD, which has been backed by legendary investor Warren Buffett, is the only electric car firm to design and build the complete electrical powertrain, including batteries, semiconductors, motors and motor controllers.
Bosses say the brand is all set for another year of growth in 2023, with sales possibly even topping the 2 million mark.
We’ll bring you more news of BYD’s UK launch plans in the coming weeks.
As a 70th anniversary present to itself, Chevrolet has unveiled the first electrified and all-wheel drive version of the Corvette.
The new Corvette E-Ray also becomes the fastest street-legal version of the All-American sports car, mixing speed with efficiency.
Chevrolet opted to reveal the E-Ray exactly 70 years after the original Corvette debuted at the 1953 Motorama event in New York City. It makes for a neat way to commemorate seven decades of Corvette production.
The all-weather Corvette
Mounted in the middle of the Corvette E-Ray is the same 6.2-l LT2 V8 engine as found in the regular Stingray. Here it produces 495hp, with 470lb ft of torque, sending this all to the rear wheels.
At the front is an electric motor, generating a considerable 160hp and 125lb ft. This solely drives the front wheels, creating the E-Ray’s electric all-wheel drive (eAWD) capability.
Working together, the two propulsion systems make for a total output of 655hp. The result is the ability for the E-Ray to accelerate from 0-60mph in just 2.5 seconds, and complete a quarter-mile sprint in 10.5 seconds.
Chevrolet has avoided making the E-Ray a plug-in hybrid. Instead, the small 1.9kWh battery lives between the seats, and restores its power from regenerative braking.
Engage Stealth Mode
Up to six driver modes are available for the E-Ray, including a ‘Stealth Mode’. This allows the electrified Corvette to travel in pure electric mode at speeds of up to 45mph. At other times, the eAWD will work with the engine to boost traction.
On the outside, the E-Ray uses the same widened bodywork of the high-performance Corvette Z06. Buyers can specify an exclusive ‘Electric Blue’ body stripe, ensuring everyone knows you picked the hybrid Corvette.
Production of the Corvette E-Ray is scheduled to begin later this year, with both coupe and convertible versions available. Prices in the United States will begin from $104,295 – equivalent to £85,000.
Chevrolet is yet to confirm whether the E-Ray will be offered in right-hand drive, like the regular Corvette Stingray. However, multiple RHD prototypes have been spotted undergoing recent testing.
More than one in four new cars sold in 2022 was painted grey – but green posted the biggest volume growth, with a 74.2 percent uplift.
While grey was the most popular colour for the fifth year running, a total of 31,220 new green cars were sold in 2022: almost 13,300 more than the previous year.
Fittingly, almost a quarter of them were ‘green’ in another way: they could be plugged in.
However, the British new car market overall remains largely monochromatic.
Adding to the 25.7 percent of grey new cars (that’s a staggering 415,199 cars sold last year), black paint took 20.1 percent of sales, while white represented 16.7 percent.
This means more than six in 10 new cars sold in 2022 were either grey, black or white.
Silver on the slide
Silver was the top paint colour in Britain for 12 straight years, between 2000 and 2011. In 2022, though, it posted its lowest market share in more than two decades; just 6.1 percent of new cars were silver. Indeed, both blue and red are now more popular than silver.
Green, meanwhile, surged into seventh place in the new car colours chart, with a 1.9 percent market share. Some 1.2 percent of new cars sold last year were orange, with yellow on 0.7 percent and bronze rounding out the top 10 with a 0.5 percent share.
And the least popular colours? Maroon, pink and cream – combined, they account for less than one percent of new cars, with pink posting its lowest market share since 2009.
“Car colour choice theoretically proclaims something about who we are as drivers,” said SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes. “Buying a new car today comes with many possibilities to customise your vehicle to match.
“While the most popular shade remain unchanged for 2022, for those looking to ensure their vehicle stands out from the crowd, there remains a huge variety of colour choices from across the rainbow available to suit every character.”
Branded as the ‘DBS 770 Ultimate’, the name hints at the huge amount of power on offer from the twin-turbocharged 5.2-litre V12 engine. Maximum output is now a colossal 770hp.
Only 499 examples of the special finale model will be made, split between 300 Coupe and 199 Volante convertible versions.
‘Boundless performance and response‘
Extracting 770hp, and 664lb ft of torque, from the V12 engine has involved upgraded parts, along with a seven percent increase in maximum turbo boost pressure. The result is a potential 211mph top speed, along with what Aston describes as ‘outstanding in-gear acceleration’.
The ZF eight-speed automatic transmission has been calibrated specifically for the 770 Ultimate, and is connected to a mechanical limited-slip differential. Carbon ceramic brakes are standard, whilst the steering has been tuned to deliver greater precision and feedback.
Other changes include a 25 percent improvement in front end lateral stiffness, thanks to reengineered parts beneath the DBS 770 Ultimate.
The standard Adaptive Damping System for the suspension has also been enhanced, with unique damper settings designed to deliver ride comfort and body control.
An ‘uncompromisingly unique aesthetic’
Exterior changes for the DBS 770 Ultimate include a new front splitter, a ‘horseshoe’ bonnet vent, and a larger rear diffuser. Carbon fibre trim is used for the windscreen surround, exterior mirrors, and side vents.
A set of 21-inch alloy wheels are inspired by the Aston Martin Valkyrie and Victor models, and come in a choice of three different finishes.
The interior features Sports Plus Seats, trimmed in full semi-aniline leather and Alcantara, as standard. Bespoke sill plaques are individually numbered to reflect the 499 examples.
Marek Reichman, Aston Martin Chief Creative Officer, says: “DBS has always sat at the pinnacle of the Aston Martin production model line-up. And now we’re infusing DBS 770 Ultimate with even more… more power, more performance purity and all with more sophistication, more taste and in the most considered manner.
The ‘emphatic last word’
Aston Martin has already established a track record with using the ‘Ultimate’ name for final edition models. The badge has been used before on both generations of the Aston Martin Vanquish, and now two generations of the DBS V12.
However, you will be out of look should you want to grab a slice of Aston Martin history. All 499 examples are already reserved for customers, with the order book closed.
Production of the latest DBS 770 Ultimate is set to begin in the first quarter of 2023, with deliveries to customers in the third quarter of 2023.
A West Midlands petrol station has gained planning permission to replace its car wash with electric vehicle chargers.
As reported by the Express & Star, approval was granted for the Shell Compton Service Station, which is located on Wolverhampton’s Bridgnorth Road.
The existing car wash facility will be demolished, with charging devices for up to seven electric cars taking its place.
Power in, wash out
In approving the planning permission, Wolverhampton City Council noted the ‘addition of the electric vehicle charging points will help contribute towards renewable sustainable energy and help the air quality of the area’.
The seven EV chargers will be housed beneath a separate canopy to the petrol station forecourt, and offer charging speeds of up to 150kWh.
Motor Fuels Group (MFG), one of the UK’s largest independent forecourt operators, was responsible for the planning permission request. It manages more than 900 filling stations across the country, and has made major plans to introduce EV charging.
MFG has committed to invest £400 million in ultra-rapid EV tech, aiming to install more than 3,000 individual charging devices by 2030.
More charging capacityneeded
The company opened seven new EV charging locations at the end of 2022, and has a total of 280 ultra-rapid chargers now in operation. All of the most recent sites have been added to existing petrol station forecourts.
A need for greater EV charging has been highlighted by the Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). It notes that charging access ‘remains a barrier to EV uptake’ and that the ‘government’s EV Infrastructure Strategy forecast that the UK would require between 300,000 and 720,000 chargepoints by 2030’.
The SMMT says that even to meet the minimum requirement of 300,000 charging devices, ‘more than 100 new chargers to be installed every single day’. The current rate of installation is said to be around 23 chargers per day.
The Mini Electric supermini now comes with an added incentive for those thinking about buying one.
Customers who order a Mini Electric before 31 March 2023 will receive a free home charging wallbox.
The offer includes installation of the wallbox by Pod Point, Mini’s official EV charging partner. It applies to vehicles bought via Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and Personal Contract Hire (PCH) finance.
Home charging solved
Pod Point will supply a home wallbox capable of topping up the Mini Electric from 0-80 percent battery charge in just three hours.
Using a dedicated wallbox for charging is faster than a domestic three-pin plug socket. It also allows Mini owners to access the Pod Point smartphone app.
In line with the latest smart charging legislation, the Pod Point app means Mini Electric owners can schedule charging for off-peak hours. It can also be used to track charging activity, add up costs and view usage history.
Installation of the free wallbox needs to take place before 31 March 2024, and is subject to the buyer’s home wiring being up to the relevant standards.
Big benefits for Mini owners
Customers who already have a wallbox for home charging do not miss out, however. Mini offers the option of a £750 deposit contribution instead of the wallbox.
All Mini Electric owners are eligible for free 12-month access to the Mini Charging service. This allows access to more than 11,000 public chargepoints in the UK, including Ionity and Instavolt rapid charging devices.
Prices for the Mini Electric start from £29,000, which includes satellite navigation, a digital dashboard and smartphone connectivity as standard.
Fitted with a 32.6kWh battery, the Mini Electric is officially capable of covering up to 145 miles when fully charged.
The third Monday in January is designated ‘Blue Monday’ – officially the most depressing day of the year, thanks to long nights, damp weather and the post-Christmas blues.
Even if you enjoy driving, spending long hours in the car may also worsen your mood and pose risks to your health, including through stress and a poor diet.
With Blue Monday in mind, we’ve put together some easy-to-follow tips for staying healthy, happy and safe on the road.
Take some time for yourself
One of the nice things about a long commute is you have time to yourself. How you keep your mind busy, while of course paying attention to driving, can be the difference between a bad journey and a good one.
Time for reflection is helpful, without the distraction of text messages, social media and so on. Enjoy the downtime and you’ll hit the ground running when you arrive at work.
Long commutes are also the perfect opportunity to educate yourself with audiobooks, podcasts and music. You could learn a language, develop a new interest, or work your way through every album Bob Dylan has ever recorded. Just us? OK, fine.
Make your commute more fun
It may sound obvious, and maybe a bit silly, but a good first port of call for a pick-me-up on the road is putting on your favourite tunes and having a good singalong.
A study by Nature Research found that listening to ‘heroic’ music can up your mood. Line up that Bonnie Tyler album. Just us again? Hmmm.
Listening to music too loudly can get you in trouble, though. Bradford council tried to pass a law that would see drivers playing loud music fined £100.
Dare we suggest the right car could also boost your driving enjoyment? Thankfully, that doesn’t mean spending lots of money: a second-hand Mazda MX-5 or Volkswagen Golf GTI will make any commute more fun.
Take up a hobby
Being crafty around your commute can free up time. Finish work at half-five, but the traffic doesn’t disappear until seven? Get a gym membership near to your office, so you can either get in early or leave late. Either way, that hour-and-a-half commute might shrink to 50 minutes if you devote a bit of time to your fitness.
The other plus-points are well known. Burning calories will keep you healthy, and a bit of exercise releases good endorphins. A good mood, made better by clear morning or evening roads, is a win-win.
Work in the city? Break up your commute by leaving your car on the outskirts, then walking or taking public transport. It could save you time, money (depending on where you are) and boost your mood. A bit more exercise is rarely a bad thing.
Give yourself enough time
Needless to say, a rushed drive is a stressful drive – and you’re more likely to make poor decisions behind the wheel. Get ahead of the traffic, roadworks and any other obstacles by leaving with time to spare.
Then there’s the obvious problem of the law. Driving carelessly can land you with a fine and penalty points on your licence. The job of operating the car should always be top of your priority list.
Keep your car tidy
We’ve saved the nagging for the end, but it’s necessary all the same. Maintain the place where you spend several hours of your day, and your mood and health will likely improve.
From crumbs to clutter, you’re better off without it all. Have a good clear-out and rediscover your car’s cabin.
With 15 January designated as ‘National Pothole Day’, insurance company Admiral has revealed the huge increase in cars suffering pothole damage.
Analysis of the company’s data, has found that claims made for damage caused by potholes have risen by more than one-third (34 percent) since 2016.
The actual cost of repairs after pothole encounters has also jumped, increasing by an average of 16 percent. Admiral blames this on higher-tech vehicles requiring more specialist attention, along with an overall rise in the cost of car repairs.
Winter woes for drivers
December’s cold snap is expected to bring more pothole misery to UK roads, with freeze-thaw action likely to worsen existing cracks in tarmac surfaces.
Admiral notes that the ‘Beast from the East’ winter storm brought a 102 percent surge in pothole claims.
January to March is typically already the worst period for pothole-related claims. The first quarter of the year usually accounts for more than one-third (36 percent) of annual pothole claims.
Lorna Connelly, Head of Claims at Admiral, explains: “Over the last seven years we’ve seen an average of over 700 pothole-related claims a year.
“In years with extreme cold snaps, we always see an increase – for example, in 2018 when we had the ‘Beast from the East’, this increased to over 1,000 claims.
“We expect the thaw following the December cold snap will result in a spike in claims this year, too.”
How to claim for pothole damage
Lorna Connelley adds: “You can always try to claim compensation for any damage caused to your car, through whoever is responsible for the road you were driving on, although there is no guarantee you will be successful.”
Admiral has produced a step-by-step guide on how to claim compensation for damage caused by potholes. This includes advice to:
Collect as much evidence as possible. This should include a photograph of the pothole, along with details of the time, date, and location where the damage occurred. A mechanic’s written report on the damage will help, too.
Find out who is responsible. Different authorities have responsibility for different roads, so it is vital to contact the right one. Drivers can request copies of maintenance schedules to show potholes have not been addressed properly.
Report your claim. Many local authorities have online forms for this, but be sure to include as much information as possible.
Once submitted, a local authority or other organisation may make an offer of compensation. Be prepared to argue for more if this does not adequately cover the damage caused.
If your claim is rejected, drivers can opt to pursue the matter through court. However, this is potentially an expensive and time-consuming process, so best reserved for the most serious levels of damage.
Admiral notes that there is the option to claim on your car insurance for damage, should you have comprehensive cover. This should be weighed against the cost of your insurance excess, along with the effect on any no-claims bonus applied.
The Jeep Avenger has been named European Car of the Year 2023 at the Brussels Motor Show.
The Avenger won by a clear margin over seven other finalists, which included the Kia Niro, Nissan Ariya, Peugeot 408, Renault Austral, Subaru Solterra and Toyota BZ4X, and the Volkswagen ID.Buzz.
57 Car of the Year jurors voted for the Jeep – ensuring the brand won on its first ever entry into the award.
The electric Jeep Avenger arrives in the UK later this year, as the smallest-ever Jeep, and the brand’s first pure electric vehicle.
The Jeep Avenger succeeds the Kia EV6 as the latest Car of the Year – meaning a pure electric car scoops the award for the second year running.
This year, the European Car of the Year organisation celebrates its 60th anniversary; the first competition was held back in 1964.
The new Mazda MX-30 R-EV plug-in hybrid heralds the revival of the rotary engine as an ingenious alternative for drivers who want an electric car, but require a longer range.
Revealed at the 2023 Brussels Motor Show, the new Mazda MX-30 R-EV is available to order now with prices starting from £31,250 – exactly the same as the fully electric Mazda MX-30 EV.
Capable of 53 miles on electric power only, the addition of the rotary engine and a 50-litre petrol tank gives the new Mazda MX-30 R-EV an overall range of more than 370 miles.
This is considerably better than the 124-mile range of the Mazda MX-30 EV.
UK deliveries start in the summer and, to celebrate the return of the rotary engine, there is a launch edition Mazda MX-30 R-EV Edition R. This has unique rotary-inspired details and costs £37,895.
Mazda MX-30 R-EV: Extending the range
Instead of a 35.5kWh battery, the Mazda MX-30 R-EV uses a 17.8kWh battery – exactly half the size. This saves both weight and cost.
However, because rotary engines are so compact, Mazda has been able to fit an 830cc single-rotor petrol engine alongside the generator and motor within the engine bay.
It’s incredibly compact and lightweight, so the Mazda MX-30 R-EV plug-in hybrid weighs almost the same as the pure electric version.
What’s more, the rotary engine acts solely as a generator, creating electricity to power the motor.
There is no mechanical connection between the engine and the wheels, meaning the MX-30 R-EV always feels like a smooth, fast-reacting electric car to drive.
What’s more, because system power output is 170hp, rather than the 145hp of the electric version, it accelerates a little faster: 0-62mph takes 9.1 seconds.
For those who want to stick with battery power, the 53-mile pure electric range can be boosted via 50kW DC chargers, with a 20-80 percent charge taking 25 minutes.
There are three driving modes. Normal sticks in EV mode as long as possible, but will switch on the engine when the driver demands more power than the battery can deliver.
EV mode, meanwhile, uses electric power until the battery is drained. And a Charge mode can save electric power for later, in increments of 10 percent.
Mazda MX-30 R-EV: A tax-friendly choice
In the official WLTP fuel consumption test, the new Mazda MX-30 R-EV averages 282.5mpg.
Of course, as with all plug-in hybrids, this figure is meaningless. But it does result in a CO2 emissions figure of just 21g/km, which most certainly isn’t.
It equates to a low Benefit-in-Kind tax rating of eight percent, which is hugely significant to high-mileage company car drivers (although it’s worth noting the pure electric version has a BiK rating of just two percent).
For those not yet able to go electric, the new Mazda MX-30 R-EV is a great, fuel-saving stepping stone, with the long range that fleet drivers demand.
Mazda MX-30 R-EV: Return of the rotary
Mazda has been making rotary engines for more than 50 years. The concept is a core part of the firm’s DNA, and its ingenious engineers jumped at the chance to bring it back, a decade after the final rotary-engined Mazda RX-8 sports car was produced.
Not only are rotary engines extremely compact, they are also uncannily smooth – meaning the vibration-free silence of an electric car won’t be spoiled even when the engine is running.
The new Mazda MX-30 R-EV has an 830cc single-rotor engine; this contrasts with the 654cc twin-rotor unit in the RX-8.
It is such a compact powerplant that, when combined with the electric motor and generator, the package measures less than 840mm wide – so it can use the same body frame as the Mazda MX-30 EV.
Because it acts purely as a generator, as a series hybrid, it doesn’t need a gearbox either, saving further weight.
The new Mazda MX-30 R-EV engine uses direct fuel injection, boosting efficiency and emissions, as well as an exhaust gas recirculation system.
Mazda also insists the rotor tip seals are extremely wear-resistant, while the sides of the rotor housing are coated with a plasma spray to reduce wear and friction.
Mazda MX-30 R-EV Edition R
The special edition Mazda MX-30 R-EV Edition R has bespoke badging, depicting a rotor with the letter ‘e’ accented in orange. It also comes with unique Maroon Rouge Metallic side pillars, on top of a black base colour.
The Edition R’s key fob has horizontal edges that curve at the same angle as the sides of the rotor – while the sculpted slides are 2.5mm wide, the same as the rotor tip seals. It’s gloss-coated and also marked out with the Edition R rotor logo.
The seat headrests and floor mats feature the Edition R logo, too.
Mazda MX-30 R-EV prices
Entry-level Mazda MX-30 R-EV prices are identical to the Mazda MX-30 EV.
As you move up to top-spec Makato models, it does cost a little more, but the difference is less than £500 – because this version comes as standard with an adaptor allowing owners to power devices via a three-pin plug.
There are three core trim levels, plus the limited-run Edition R launch model, as detailed here:
