Petrol stations making too much profit, says the RAC

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May 20, 2024

The RAC has claimed petrol stations are profiteering from fuel sales in its latest clash with the fuel industry.

The breakdown organisation said margins made by sellers on diesel have been higher than 15 pence per litre since 22 April 2024, and increased last week to 18p. It added that the margin on petrol is now nearly 12p a litre – and has averaged 10p so far this year.

According to the RAC, the average price of petrol currently stands at 150p per litre, while diesel is at 157p. If margins were reduced, it said petrol and diesel prices at the pump could decrease by 10p per litre. Wholesale oil prices have dropped by $7 (around £5.50) per barrel in the last seven days.

The government has proposed introducing a mandatory Pump Watch tracking scheme and the roll-out of a price-monitoring body. However, in a letter sent to Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho earlier this week, the RAC warned that such an organisation must ‘have teeth’ and ‘hold retailers to account’.

“It’s very concerning to see fuel margins at such high levels, particularly as this is happening under the close eye of the Competition and Markets Authority and while retailers are voluntarily sharing their forecourt prices with the intention of increasing competition,” said Simon Williams, RAC fuel spokesperson.

“If the work of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and the CMA has had any effect to date on improving fuel price transparency, we ought to see prices at the pumps reduce significantly in the next week due to a sustained drop in the cost of oil. Sadly, we fear retailers are likely to need a little more encouragement before this happens.”

RAC versus the fuel industry

This is not the first time the RAC has hit out against the fuel industry. Earlier this month, it called on the government to intervene to help lower prices and accused retailers of having ‘unfair margins’.

Responding to that claim, the boss of the fuel retailer lobby group said fuel stations are “operating on razor-thin margins” and are doing “all they can to keep prices low for their customers”.

Gordon Balmer, executive director of the Petrol Retailers Association, also took a veiled swipe at the RAC: “It is disappointing that we are constantly having to devote time and resources to correcting the inaccurate narrative offered by some commentators about pump price increases. We are doing all we can through the appropriate policy channels to address this issue, while others would prefer to offer criticism without taking the time to understand how the industry works.”

At this rate, neither organisation will end up on the other’s Christmas card list.

“We’ve been clear that retailers must pass fuel savings to drivers – and that’s why we are making sure there is no place to hide for anyone found to be unfairly hiking up their pump prices,” a Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson told Motoring Research.

“Our new Pumpwatch scheme will help drivers find the best deal at the pump, by making real-time price sharing mandatory. We’re also taking action to bring competition back to the forecourts with new powers for the CMA to shine a light on any attempt to overcharge UK drivers.”

How to find the cheapest fuel

Tracking down the cheapest fuel locally can save a considerable amount of money. Although a discount of a few pence per litre doesn’t sound like much, every little helps – as one big retailer would say – especially in the long-run.

It is relatively easy to find and compare real-time prices, with a number of price comparison websites offering advice. Petrolprices.com reckons it can save the average motorist £240 over the course of a year. You can enter a postcode and the filling stations appear on a map within a radius around your chosen start point. There’s also a free mobile app.

Meanwhile, if you’re in a new car with internet connectivity via the infotainment system, your route to the cheapest fuel in your area could be very swift, with many cars now accessing online databases of the cheapest fuel stations.

Finally, as well as showing user-based contributions for speed camera positions and accidents, the Waze navigation app displays fuel stations and current prices.

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New 782hp Continental GT is the most powerful Bentley ever

By

Daniel Puddicombe

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May 17, 2024

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First details of the fourth-generation Bentley Continental GT have been revealed, ahead of the new car making its debut next month.

With a mighty 782hp from an uprated 4.0-litre V8 engine and a single electric motor, the Continental GT will be the most powerful Bentley in the marque’s 105-year history – outgunning even the limited-run 750hp Batur Convertible.

Zero to 62mph will likely be even quicker than the 3.5 seconds posted by the outgoing Continental GT Speed, with a top speed beyond 200mph.

The plug-in hybrid tech also provides an electric-only range of 50 miles, plus an official CO2 figure of less than 50g/km.

The car that redefined Bentley

Bentley says the new Continental GT’s chassis includes active all-wheel drive with torque vectoring, four-wheel steering, an electronic limited slip differential, 48V active anti-roll control and dual-valve dampers.

Although the car in these photos is disguised, its styling has clearly been influenced by the carbon-bodied Batur, with elongated headlights and very muscular haunches.

Launched 22 years ago, the original Continental GT ‘started the rebirth of Bentley’ and was said to ‘redefine’ the company for the modern era. Within four years of it reaching showrooms, the brand’s sales had increased to more than 10,000 units a year.

Today, one in three Bentleys sold is a Continental GT and it is the second most popular model overall – after the Bentayga SUV.

Come back to Motoring Research for a review of the new Bentley Continental GT later this summer.

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Renault Rafale hybrid SUV spawns a 300hp Alpine version

By

John Redfern

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May 17, 2024

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The latest model in the Renault range to gain a sportier Alpine derivative has been revealed.

Following on from the updated Clio supermini, the new Renault Rafale E-Tech 4×4 has received the Alpine treatment, with styling enhancements and bespoke chassis tuning.

The family-sized SUV coupe promises 300hp, combined with the ability to cover up to 621 miles without filling up – thanks to its plug-in hybrid powertrain.

Plug-in performance

The Rafale E-Tech 4×4 makes use of the same 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine as a host of other Renault models. Delivering 150hp by itself, here it joins forces with three electric motors to produce a total output of 300hp.

Adding a motor to the rear axle also results in an electrified all-wheel-drive layout. This can see the Rafale E-Tech 4×4 sprint from 0-62mph in 6.4 seconds, and accelerate from 50-70mph in just 4.0 seconds.

The all-wheel-drive system can shift up to 100 percent of torque between the front and rear axles as required. A 22kWh lithium-ion battery allows the Rafale E-Tech 4×4 to cover up to 62 miles on electric power alone. Charging via a standard domestic wallbox takes just three hours.

Alpine-tuned handling

Alpine’s involvement in the Rafale E-Tech 4×4 has focused on enhancing suspension settings for the range-topping version of this SUV coupe.

‘Atelier Alpine’ models feature self-adjusting active suspension, along with bespoke springs and dampers. A windscreen-mounted camera is used to continuously adjust the suspension stiffness to suit the road ahead.

Drivers can also select a number of distinct driving modes using a special Chassis Control menu. This alters the damping levels, and how much the rear-wheel steering intervenes to aid agility.

Satin Summit Blue paintwork is available for the Atelier Alpine model, complemented by 21-inch alloy wheels and a Starry Black rear spoiler.

A new flagship Rafale

On the inside, the Rafale E-Tech 4×4 comes with sports seats finished in Alcantara, with the same material also covering the steering wheel.

A full-length panoramic sunroof is fitted as standard, as are a 12.3-inch digital driver display and 12.0-inch central touchscreen.

UK prices for the Rafale E-Tech 4×4 will be announced in June. However, the car will sit above the existing Austral SUV and Arkana SUV coupe in the Renault range. First deliveries of the 300hp Rafale are expected in the autumn.

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Alfa Romeo reveals Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio Super Sport

By

John Redfern

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May 16, 2024

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A pair of special edition Alfa Romeo models have been announced, celebrating the Italian marque’s motorsport heritage.

Based on the high performance Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio, the Super Sport limited editions pay homage to Alfa Romeo’s victory at the 1928 Mille Miglia.

That year saw the Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 cover the exhausting 1,007-mile course, with Giuseppe Campari and Giulio Ramponi taking a dominant win.

A number of design tweaks, both inside and out, will mark out Super Sport models from the regular Quadrifoglio.

Badge engineering

The most significant changes for the Super Sport duo come from Alfa Romeo’s Centro Stilo design department.

For the first time in 100 years, the famous Quadrifoglio (four-leaf clover) has been modified. Its traditional white background is replaced with black for the Super Sport, said to give ‘more boldness and solidity’ to the badge.

Super Sport buyers can choose from triple-coat Etna Red or metallic Vulcano Black paint, with the Giulia saloon also available in Alfa White. Carbon fibre trim is found on the door mirrors and front grille.

Black ‘Teledial’ wheels are fitted as standard, with 19-inch items on the Giulia and 21-inch rims on the Stelvio SUV.

Crimson and clover

Alfa Romeo has left the 2.9-litre V6 powering the Stelvio and Giulia Quadrifoglio unaltered. However, this still means a very respectable 520hp, combined with a mechanical limited-slip differential. An Akrapovic performance exhaust is fitted, too.

The interior benefits from generous helpings of red-tinted carbon fibre trim, which is applied to the dashboard, centre console and door cards.

Red Alfa Romeo and Super Sport logos are stitched into the front headrests, along with recognition of the cars’ limited-edition status. A combination of leather and Alcantara (synthetic suede) is used for the steering wheel.

Time is running out

Alfa Romeo plans to build just 275 examples of the Giulia Quadrifoglio Super Sport. Numbers for the Stelvio are limited to 175 units.

UK prices for the Giulia Quadrifoglio Super Sport will start from £82,815, while the Stelvio Quadrifoglio Super Sport costs from £91,835.

As Alfa Romeo pivots increasingly towards electrification, the Super Sport models will likely be one of the final opportunities to own a V6-powered Quadrifoglio. Grab one while you can…

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New Morgan Midsummer is a coachbuilt project with Pininfarina

By

Tim Pitt

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May 15, 2024

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Made from cast iron and solid oak, the rear wheelarch jig in the Morgan wood shop has been shaping sports cars for around 80 years (nobody knows exactly how long). But a slimmer, sleeker new wood press now sits alongside it, made especially for the Morgan Midsummer.

“The older tool’s shape means the rear wheelarch of any Morgan is never a perfect curve,” explains chief designer Jonathan Wells. “This is the first car we’ve created entirely using 3D digital design software. Its wheelarches are CAD-drawn concentric curves… so we needed a new jig.”

The future has arrived in Malvern, it seems – even if it still looks conspicuously like the past.

A project with Pininfarina

A roofless roadster intended to provide ‘a closeness to your surroundings and a raw connection to your machine’, the Midsummer is a joint project with Pininfarina – the Italian design house that sculpted many of Ferrari’s most beautiful cars.

Its impetus came via another Italian connection: Morgan CEO Massimo Fumarola, previously chief project officer at Lamborghini. He provided the link between Malvern and Turin, resulting in a car that combines two centuries of coachbuilding expertise.

Only 50 examples of the Midsummer will be made – all of them snapped up in advance by Morgan’s most loyal customers. A price hasn’t been disclosed and Wells says it “varied wildly” depending on the spec of each car. However, I’m told the ballpark figure is similar to the limited-run Plus Four CX-T of 2021, which started from £204,000.

‘Elegant and eccentric’

The Midsummer was inspired by traditional Italian barchettas, with swept-back wings and a strong shoulder line created by its wooden door-tops. Its prominent headlights – with integrated indicators – come from the updated Plus Four, while Morgan’s traditional stamped bonnet louvres are replaced by ‘piano key’ vents in front of two tiny aero screens.

Wells says his favourite angle is the rear-three-quarter view, and I’m inclined to agree. The Morgan’s elongated, tapering tail harks back to pre-war designs, and its powerful haunches wrap around 19-inch forged alloy wheels like those of a salt-flats racer. The stainless steel sills are very distinctive, too, visually lowering the car and reflecting the road surface.

Uniquely, where you’d usually find the words ‘Disegno di Pininfarina’, the badges on the Morgan’s front wings say ‘Pininfarina Fuoriserie’. Literally translated as ‘out of series’, the Fuoriserie name reflects the Midsummer’s status as a genuine collaboration between the two companies – not simply a Morgan dressed in Italian couture.

“A Morgan isn’t aggressive, it is elegant. But it’s also eccentric,” affirms Wells. “The Midsummer establishes design foundations to build upon for future Morgan models.”

Softer than a Plus Six

The forthcoming cars Wells hints at start with the updated Plus Six, due soon, which will look more distinct from its (cheaper, less powerful) Plus Four sibling.

The existing Plus Six is the starting point for the Midsummer, which borrows its ‘CX’ bonded aluminium platform, 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six BMW engine (also found in the Toyota GR Supra) and eight-speed automatic transmission. Morgan hasn’t quoted any performance figures, but with 340hp and a target kerb weight of 1,000kg, it certainly won’t be slow.

As a driving experience, Jonathan Wells says the Midsummer is “totally different”, with “more compliant dampers and plenty of tyre sidewall for a classic GT feel.” A sealed underbody means “much lower drag than a Plus Six” as well.

A Morgan for grand tours

As per standard Morgan practice, the Midsummer’s body panels are supported by an ash wood frame, but its interior uses speedboat-style teak. Rather than single pieces of wood, however, each component is hand-made, with up to 126 layers of laminate to ensure strength and durability.

The car’s dials, with their polished centres, are bespoke and its steering wheel also differs from the Plus Six. There’s no boot, but a storage area behind the seats provides space for a couple of weekend bags – ideally a bespoke leather luggage set from Schedoni, the same Italian brand that supplies Ferrari.

Some customers have specified a luggage rack, says Wells, and a full-width windscreen is available if you’d rather not don flying goggles. Other notable requests have included a polished aluminium finish, instead of paint. Wells says every one of the 50 cars will be unique.

Made for Midsummer

And how about the name? Primarily, Morgan says it’s ‘a celebration of the season that provides optimal weather conditions to experience an open-top barchetta [do they live in England?]’. It also refers to Midsummer Hill, near Malvern, which looks down on the birthplace of company founder HFS Morgan, along with the Pickersleigh Road factory.

Open the Midsummer’s tiny doors and ‘Coachbuilt at Pickersleigh Road’ is stamped into each sill. Wells and the wider Morgan team are clearly proud of this car, and rightly so. Glamorous and gorgeous, it successfully combines quirky British tradition with effortless Italian style. It is unmistakably a Morgan, yet unlike anything the marque has produced in 114 years to date.

Let’s hope the collaboration between Morgan and Pininfarina bears further fruit, and that next time it isn’t only a ‘Fuoriserie’ for the chosen few.

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‘Baby Bugatti’ Type 35 celebrates 100 years of vintage race car

By

Daniel Puddicombe

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May 15, 2024

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Bugatti and The Little Car Company have unveiled the Baby II Type 35 Centenary Edition, designed to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the vintage racing car.

The electric, 75-percent-scale Baby Bugatti features an aluminium body, brass identification plates inside its cockpit and a Bleu de Lyon paint scheme that pays tribute to the six original Type 35 competition models.

Each car has a unique chassis number to match one of the originals, plus hand-painted race numbers on its bodywork. Potentially, they can be made road-legal.

Scaled-down and special

The Baby II Type 35 Centenary Edition was developed using a 3D scan of the original 1924 Bugatti Grand Prix car.

Oxfordshire-based The Little Car Company already makes a version of the Type 35, along with downsized replicas of the Aston Martin DB5 and Ferrari Testa Rossa.

Despite their playful side, TLCC founder Ben Hedley insists his vehicles aren’t toys: “We take classic cars that are now too valuable to drive, then shrink them down 25 percent,” he told Motoring Research.

The most successful racing car ever?

Introduced in 1924, just five full-size Type 35s were built – plus a prototype. They were raced for a decade and, during that period, the cars achieved some 2,500 wins and podium places.

According to Bugatti, that makes the Type 35 ‘the most successful racing car of all time’ – a claim we’re not about to argue with.

All six examples of the Centenary Edition have already been sold and are destined for ‘private collectors across the globe’. However, the ‘standard’ Type 35 is still available from The Little Car Company, priced from £25,000.

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How AI can slash EV charging emissions and save drivers money

By

Daniel Puddicombe

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May 15, 2024

0

Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology can be used to reduce the emissions from electric car charging by up to 89 percent – while also saving motorists money.

That’s according to leasing company DriveElectric. Its technology charges EVs when the carbon intensity of the National Grid is at its lowest, and provides data about the carbon emissions saved.

The emissions created by electric vehicle charging are dependent on the carbon intensity of the electricity supply, which in turn is influenced by the amount of renewable energy used.

According to National Grid data, the average carbon intensity of electricity supplied so far in 2024 is 129.9g of CO2 per kWh. However, the lowest figure was 19g CO₂/kWh, when the grid was mostly powered by renewable energy. The highest total this year was 295g CO₂/kWh.

Timing it right to reduce CO2

DriveElectric says the carbon emissions associated with charging an EV also have a ‘huge variance’ depending on when the car is plugged in.

According to UK government figures from 2023, an average electric car has emissions of 81g CO₂e (carbon dioxide equivalent) per mile. This is based on the total carbon figure for the generation of the energy, including extracting, refining and transporting it. The equivalent figure for a petrol car is 263g CO₂e per mile.

DriveElectric says its technology results in the average EV emissions figure being reduced to less than 40g CO₂e per mile – and potentially as low as 9g CO₂e per mile.

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Auto Trader reveals the fastest – and slowest – selling used cars

By

Daniel Puddicombe

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May 13, 2024

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Petrol-powered examples of the Peugeot 208 are currently the UK’s fastest-selling used cars. According to data from online marketplace Auto Trader, these vehicles take an average of 11 days to find a new home.

By contrast, the BMW M2 has the dubious honour of being the UK’s slowest-selling second-hand car, with an average sale taking 104 days. The overall UK average is 28 days.

Auto Trader says May 2024 is the second consecutive month a Peugeot has taken the top spot. In April, the larger Peugeot 3008 took an average of just 12 days to sell.

Only one diesel car, the Mercedes-Benz GLA,made it into the top 10 this month, while three alternative-fuel vehicles – the Seat Leon, Toyota Prius and Jaguar I-Pace – also made the fastest-sellers list.

Auto Trader said the fact that just one electric car is included reflects the wider market, where petrol models sell faster than any other type of car. On average, a petrol-engined vehicle needs 27 days to sell, compared with 29 days for hybrids and diesel cars.

However, Auto Trader said demand growth for used electric cars is ‘soaring way ahead of their petrol counterparts’, increasing by up to 54.9 percent year-on-year.

The UK’s fastest selling used cars

Here are the top 10 fastest selling used cars, according to data from Auto Trader.

Peugeot 208 petrol – 11 days to sell
Toyota Prius hybrid – 12.5 days
Seat Leon petrol plug-in (3-5 years old) – 13 days
Volvo XC40 petrol – 13 days
Jaguar I-Pace – 13 days
Seat Leon petrol plug-in (1-3 years old) – 13.5 days
Citroen C4 petrol – 13.5 days
Mercedes-Benz GLB petrol – 14 days
Mercedes-Benz GLA diesel – 14 days
Ford Kuga petrol – 14 days

The UK’s slowest-selling used cars

Own one of the 10 cars below? Then you could be waiting a long time before it sells…

BMW M2 petrol – 104 days to sell
Fiat 500e – 95 days
Volkswagen ID.3 – 90 days
BMW 2 Series Active Tourer plug-in – 89 days
Volkswagen ID.5 – 84 days
Audi Q5 plug-in hybrid – 80 days
Range Rover Sport petrol – 79 days
MG HS plug-in hybrid – 78 days
Ford Mondeo petrol – 73 days
Mercedes-Benz V-Class – 70 days

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New Volkswagen California camper revealed, now with hybrid tech

By

John Redfern

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May 13, 2024

0

The latest model in Volkswagen’s long-running and much-loved camper van range has been announced.

Called the New California, the 2024 model uses the impressive Volkswagen Multivan MPV as its starting point for a camper conversion.

The Multivan platform brings new powertrains, including a plug-in hybrid option, and the promise of greater versatility inside the vehicle.

Given the cult following the Volkswagen California enjoys, getting this model right is clearly important for the German company.

A bigger, better California

The New California is longer and wider than its predecessor but, importantly, no taller. Interior space has increased, and all models now come with sliding doors on both sides. Previously, twin sliding doors were reserved for the range-topping California Ocean.

As before, the New California range starts with Beach trim, before progressing to Coast and Ocean models. All come with a pop-up roof as standard, which acts as a sleeping space.

In entry-level Beach guise, the New California can seat six people inside and comes with car type approval. Moving up to the Coast and Ocean versions sees a reduction in seating capacity, and the California becomes officially classed as a camper van.

Now with plug-in power

Every Volkswagen New California will come equipped with a dual-clutch automatic transmission as standard. Engine options mirror those available for the Volkswagen Multivan, meaning there are three distinct powertrains.

Buyers can choose a 2.0-litre diesel with 150hp, a 2.0-litre petrol with 204hp or the new-for-2024 eHybrid PHEV version.

Volkswagen’s first plug-in hybrid camper van combines a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor, for a total output of 245hp. It also brings 4Motion all-wheel drive to the party. An electric mode allows the VW to travel small distances on battery power alone.

Keeping things more traditional, two-tone paintwork remains an option, with three combinations to choose from. That’s in addition to 11 single-tone paint hues, plus three different pop-up roof colours.

Glamping in style

The level of camper van equipment is seemingly endless. The top Ocean model, for example, comes with heated seats, climate control and ambient lighting for the kitchenette area.

A 5.0-inch touchscreen is included on all models, acting as the van control unit. This includes information on water levels, battery charge and even the status of the refrigerator. A dedicated Volkswagen California smartphone app can be used to control the interior functions, too.

Pre-orders for the Volkswagen New California open in June 2024, with the first completed vehicles due for delivery by the end of this year. UK prices and specifications will be announced soon.

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Half of motorists admit to using washing-up liquid to clean their car

By

Daniel Puddicombe

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May 13, 2024

0

Half of all motorists admit to using washing-up liquid to clean their car – a potentially costly shortcut that could cause thousands of pounds of damage to paintwork.

While washing-up liquid is ideal for removing grease and burnt-on food, it strips away the protective layers of paint on a car’s body panels. This leaves it vulnerable to airborne and waterborne contaminants, along with damage from ultraviolet light.

According to a survey by Autoglym, 48 percent of drivers have used washing-up liquid to clean their vehicle, rising to 56 percent among those aged between 55 and 64 years old.

A third (34 percent) also admitted they have used dishcloths, which can leave behind minor scratches due to their tough fibres. And 12 percent have used a scrubbing brush for car cleaning, while 19 percent have simply used an item of clothing.

A costly error to repair

According to Autoglym, repainting a family car can cost up to £5,000, so only use dedicated car care products to wash or polish your vehicle.

“None of these household products have been developed with car cleaning in mind, and some of the scouring pads and brushes could even be causing lasting damage. The good news is that consumers can quickly rebuild essential layers of protection by using products specially formulated to be used on cars,” said Laura Fippen, head of technical services at Autoglym.

Of course there’s an agenda here, given what Autoglym sells, but Fippen has a point – and now that the weather is (finally) warming up, it now might be time to give your car a spring clean.

Tips for cleaning your car

Start by using a hose or pressure washer to remove the grime and salt from the underside of the car. Road salt will have a corrosive effect, so should be removed as soon as possible.

Use the pressure washer to blast away all the mud and salt that will have built up under the wheelarches, along with in the sills and around the bumpers.

Clean the alloy wheels using a specialist wheel cleaner, removing the build-up of brake dust with the help of a wheel brush or even a soft-bristle toothbrush. Once clean and dry, adding a layer of wax will help keep your wheels cleaner for longer – and make them easier to wash in the future.

Taking note of the following points will help make your car look beautiful again, too:

1. Don’t use washing-up liquid. This contains a small amount of salt, which can damage your car’s paintwork.

2. Use a car shampoo. This comes down to personal preference, but a car shampoo will always be preferable to washing-up liquid.

3. Avoid using a traditional sponge. Tiny pieces of dirt and grit will get stuck in the sponge, which will be spread across the paint as you wash it. This will leave little scratches and swirl marks.

4. Use a wash mitt. These have been specifically developed to get around the problem associated with sponges by absorbing the pieces of grit, keeping them away from the paintwork.

5. Use the two-bucket method. Sorry, but you’re going to need a second bucket. One bucket should contain the washing solution, and the other only fresh water. Soak the mitt in the first bucket and wash the car. Then rinse it out in the fresh water, before dunking it in the wash liquid again.

Motoring Research has compiled a seven-step guide on how to clean the interior of your car, which can be found can be found here.

To give your car a thorough interior valet, you’ll need a free afternoon, plus the following products: a vacuum cleaner (with the appropriate nozzles), quality microfibre cloths (ideally 300g/m), an all-purpose cleaner spray, plastic brushes, window cleaning fluid and plastic cleaning liquid.

If your car has leather seats, a pH-neutral leather cleaner and leather feed will also help. Good luck!

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