News for June 2010
Mini gets a facelift
Wednesday, 30 June 2010 by Sarah Howard
The Mini is undergoing a facelift in a bid to keep up with emerging competitors in the retro-chic sector.
Announcing revamps on their hatchback, convertibles and Clubman ranges, the upgraded supermini's will go on sale to car buyers in August/September next year.
With bijou offerings from the Audi A1 and Fiat ...
Motorists change driving habits to combat fuel costs
Tuesday, 29 June 2010 by Hannah McLaverty-Williamson
Rising fuel prices are making motorists find new ways to reduce their fuel consumption.
According to the survey by Nationwide Autocentres, nine out of 10 drivers are taking steps to ensure their fuel lasts as long as possible.
The survey found that 62 per cent of motorists are driving more slowly and efficiently, 55 per cent are now shopping around for ...
Audi to produce speedy supermini
Tuesday, 29 June 2010 by Sarah Howard
In a bid to rival the Mini Cooper and Polo Gti, German supremo's Audi are set to produce a nippy version of their A1 supermini.
Rather than enticing young drivers with a penchant for speed, this Audi will appeal to a more grown-up audience with cash for cars with an abundance of class.
The fast A1 variant is to be ...
Half of UK motorists speed on motorways
Monday, 28 June 2010 by Sarah Howard
According to Auto Express, half of car drivers in the UK regularly speed on motorways and this figure is increasing year on year.
Statistics from the Department of Transport show that whilst motorists are more careful with their speed in built up areas, when let loose on the open motorway they drive faster than the 70 mph speed limit. Of those that speed on UK ...
Jaguar unveil special edition XKR
Friday, 25 June 2010 by Sarah Howard
Jaguar is set to release an extra special edition XK to mark the quality car manufacturer's 75 years in the motoring industry.
To whet car buyers appetites, Car Dealer Magazine has revealed that this supercar Jag is no pussycat, offering 530 bhp from a 5.0 litre supercharged engine. With 655Nm of torque, the car has ...
Modifications reduce resale value of car
Friday, 25 June 2010 by Laura Nineham
Pimping your ride makes it harder to sell your car for cash, according to a British auctioneer firm.
As reported on honestjohn.co.uk, the BCA warned people to think carefully when customising their car.
Tim Naylor, PR manager of BCA, said: "The majority of motorists are wary of any upgrades that are ...
Hirst art car to be auctioned at Sir Elton John's ball
Thursday, 24 June 2010 by Sarah Howard
A car revamped by prominent British artist Damien Hirst is to be auctioned at Sir Elton John's legendary White Tie and Tiara Ball later tonight.
The entirely road legal Audi A1 was splattered artistically with paint by Hirst at his Gloucestershire studio and is to be sold with a 6ft canvas painting, made at the same time as the car was metamorphosed according to the BBC. ...
Austin Powers Jag on ebay
Thursday, 24 June 2010 by Sarah Howard
The 1970 Jaguar E Type used to promote the 1999 'Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery' film is up for sale on online auction site ebay.
The groovy car is relatively untouched, covering only 4,000 miles in its lifespan, reflecting its £40,000 'buy it now price'. Whilst the sale won't touch the price of James Bond's 1964 Aston Martin DB5, which reached $6 million, it could ...
Car buying firm to close 70 sites
Wednesday, 23 June 2010 by Sarah Howard
Motor trading company We Buy Any Car is cutting back its resources, shutting 70 trading sites and cutting approximately 100 jobs according to The Mirror.
The firm offers cash for cars to sellers looking for a swift sale. Typically valuing a car online, We Buy Any Car makes a web offer for the ...
Budget delivers a blow to motorists
Wednesday, 23 June 2010 by Laura Nineham
The emergency budget delivered some bad news for motorists, receiving mixed responses from various media outlets.
According to Auto Express, it delivered good news for the motor industry as manufacturers in the UK will pay less tax.
However, that is where the good news ended. Other measures look set to drive the cost of driving up soon. With households owning ...
White, gold and yellow cars safest for drivers
Tuesday, 22 June 2010 by Hannah McLaverty-Williamson
Car buyers may want to consider more than just the model and make of vehicles when choosing their next car, after research found a car's colour can influence the chance of involvement in an accident.
The Journal of Safety Science deemed white, gold and yellow cars the safest to be in, whilst black cars are ...
What could the emergency budget hold for motorists?
Monday, 21 June 2010 by Sarah Howard
Motorists are waiting to hear what the coalition government's emergency budget has in store for them, amidst feats of mass spending cuts and tax rises.
The Conservative Liberal government is taking drastic measures in announcing an emergency summer budget to address the hefty budget deficit and ensure Britain remains a leading economic player. Whilst the budget has been confirmed by ...
Seat launches Leon Cupra R
Monday, 21 June 2010 by Sarah Howard
Much to the delight of hot-hatch loving car buyers, the Seat Leon Cupra R has been unleashed into the public domain.
With its banana yellow paint-job and attention grabbing styling, the Cupra R has kerb appeal. Styling modifications include twin central exhaust pipes, diffuser, 'R' badging, 19 inch alloys and the ...
Range Rover unveil new V8 model
Friday, 18 June 2010 by Hannah McLaverty-Williamson
If you are currently thinking you might sell your car for cash, you may want to hold on to your money - so you can treat yourself to 'the most capable and luxurious SUV in the world.'
Range Rover has announced details of its 2011 range and despite the '2011' tag, the new model will be available in showrooms from the ...
UK car production jumps more than 50 per cent in May
Friday, 18 June 2010 by Hannah McLaverty-Williamson
New figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) revealed that car production in the UK rose by 54 per cent in May.
A total of 104,365 cars were produced in May this year, which was up 62.6 per cent over the year to date, according to the SMMT. Output levels of commercial vehicles also increased by a massive 129 per cent to ...
Volkswagen Beetle is still the ''ultimate'' car for female drivers
Thursday, 17 June 2010 by Sarah Howard
Research has found that the newish Volkswagen Beetle is still number one with the ladies, over 10 years after its initial release.
The new Beetle's enticing combination of retro styling and German quality, alongside the obligatory dashboard flower are still prompting lady drivers to sell a car for cash to put towards ...
Direct sales may be better than second hand market for secondhand sellers, CAP figures suggest
Wednesday, 16 June 2010 by William Hobson
Owners who are currently looking to sell a car could be better off selling a car for cash than placing their vehicles on the second hand market, as new figures show the value of used cars at dealerships has dropped by 4% in recent weeks.
CAP, the provider of vehicle valuation data and new vehicle information, says that the downturn is due ...
WhatCar? announces most secure vehicles
Wednesday, 16 June 2010 by Sarah Howard
With car crime one of the most difficult offences to be solved, car buyers are searching for the most secure vehicles that make it as hard as possible for thieves to steal.
The British Insurance Vehicle Awards 2010 have unveiled the most thief proof cars after exhaustive testing procedures undertaken at the Thatcham motor ...
Scrappage scheme hailed 'most successful'
Tuesday, 15 June 2010 by Hannah McLaverty-Williamson
A new study has described the recent scrappage scheme as 'one of the most successful ever collaborations between car manufacturers and the government'.
Glass's report said the scheme not only stimulated new-car sales at the recession's lowest point, but is also likely to have done so without 'pulling forward' future sales of new cars.
Some experts were worried ...
One third of UK drivers never check oil levels, says study
Tuesday, 15 June 2010 by Sarah Howard
According to a report by WhatCar? 28 per cent of UK drivers never check their oil, despite owning their vehicle for an extended period of time.
The study was compiled by analysing oil levels on 250 cars in different locations around the UK, finding that almost 50 per cent of surveyed cars were either low or extremely low on oil.
Asking motorists how often they ...
First Venom delivered
Monday, 14 June 2010 by Sarah Howard
The Bugatti Veyron rivalling Hennessey Venom is here - the first production car completed at the firm's Silverstone plant is en route to its lucky new owner, according to Auto Express.
To refresh one's memory, the top spec twin turbo model of the Venom can deliver a bite of 1,200bhp, reaching 0-62mph in less than 3 seconds. Based on a Lotus Elise, the Venom revamps the ...
Are electric models sustainable for car buyers?
Friday, 11 June 2010 by Sarah Howard
With an impending flood of electric and hybrid vehicles entering the market, many motoring commentators are weighing up the benefits of spending extra cash on a greener vehicle.
With costs of electric motors higher than their standard counterparts, motoring journalist Mike Rutherford questions whether such cars are financially sustainable in the long-term.
In his ...
Audi's silent supercar spotted
Thursday, 10 June 2010 by Sarah Howard
Audi's offering to the green cause is something of a change from the traditional image of an electric vehicle. Move over Tesla as the Audi e-tron electric sportscar is reportedly to be near production.
The spies at Auto Express have snapped a heavily shrouded prototype of the much anticipated model, driving around the German countryside.
With Mercedes' AMG ...
Battle to be Britain's most dependable car maker
Wednesday, 9 June 2010 by Laura Nineham
A battle between car manufacturers has kicked off, according to a report from Auto Express.
Toyota is reportedly offering a five-year warranty package on all new cars, whilst Kia, who already provides seven years of cover, has announced plans to introduce cutting-edge brake override safety technology.
Nissan says its Juke is a new breed of vehicle
Wednesday, 9 June 2010 by Laura Nineham
Nissan has launched what it describes as a new breed of passenger vehicle, claims The Independent.
The Juke is a compact sports crossover, which combines the agility of a compact sports car with the security and toughness of an SUV, says Nissan. With a fuel consumption 15% better than 2010 mileage standards, people could be considering
First four-wheel drive Mini unveiled in London
Tuesday, 8 June 2010 by Laura Nineham
The Mini Countryman has excited car buyers in the capital after it made its British debut at the 2010 Canary Wharf London Motorexpo, according to Auto Trader.
It's the first four door, four-wheel Mini. At three foot longer than the original model, it's also the tallest Mini ever produced, according to ...
The Lada is set to return to Britain
Monday, 7 June 2010 by Laura Nineham
The Lada could be returning to Britain after a 13-year absence, according to a report from the Daily Telegraph.
It's good news for car buyers who want the luxury of a new car at a fraction of the price - the new Lada will cost just £5,200.
Renault, which owns a 25% stake in Russia's largest car maker ...
Lexus tops of the JD Power Survey
Friday, 4 June 2010 by Sarah Howard
It's a decade at the top for Lexus, as the Japanese carmaker wins the 2010 JD Power UK Vehicle Ownership Satisfaction Survey (VOSS).
The Lexus RX topped the survey with a 86.7% customer satisfaction rate. The Jaguar XF and Lexus IS followed closely in second with an overall score of 83.9%.
Meanwhile the bottom spots were occupied by the Fiat Bravo, Peugeot 206 and ...
BMW unveils an 'Art Car'
Thursday, 3 June 2010 by Sarah Howard
BMW have revealed that their latest Le Mans entry is to be an Art Car designed by Jeff Koons. Unveiled at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the car features a design inspired by performance.
The German manufacturer last tasted success at the 24 hour endurance race in 1999 with their V12 LMR. In recent years, the race has been dominated by Audi, who have powered 6 of the last ...
Electric cars alone won't cut carbon emissions
Thursday, 3 June 2010 by Hannah McLaverty-Williamson
Reducing carbon emissions are just one of the reasons green car buyers consider electric cars, but a new report from the Royal Academy of Engineering claims that simply buying an electric car is not enough.
According to the report, the success of electric cars depends heavily on the availability of ...
Aston Martin kept in a chicken shed for over 30 years is being sold
Wednesday, 2 June 2010 by Laura Nineham
A classic Aston Martin that was kept in a chicken shed for 34 years is being sold, according Motors Merseyside.
The current owner spent £20,000 restoring the car before he decided "I'd like to sell my Aston Martin at auction".
The previous owner was a farmer, who only drove the 1954 DB2 4 Mk 1 ...
Brussels rules could help car owners
Wednesday, 2 June 2010 by Sarah Howard
The European Commission has ordered the special relationship between car manufacturers and their respective dealerships to be broken up, amidst fears that consumers are not receiving a fair deal.
According to The Times, from the 1st June, car-makers such as BMW, Renault and VW will be forced to provide smaller, independent establishments with car parts and ...
Spy shots of new Honda Civic released
Wednesday, 2 June 2010 by Sarah Howard
Pictures of a heavily shrouded Honda Civic have been released, showing the family favourite being driven in heavy rain across the Italian mountains.
With the current Civic launched in 2005, Honda are planning tweaks to the design that still looks cutting-edge in 2010, adding some extra flair and streamlined features.
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