News for September 2010
Men splurge £5k more than women on cars
Wednesday, 29 September 2010 by Hannah McLaverty-Williamson
Male car buyers are prepared to splurge more when buying a car than their female counterparts, new research shows.
Research conducted by FindsYouCars.com revealed men are willing to spend as much as £5k more on a new car than women. On average, men will spend approximately £14k on their next car whereas women ...
Does the thought count when it comes to speeding?
Tuesday, 28 September 2010 by William Hobson
Car buyers looking to move up to a sportier vehicle may want to pay extra attention to their speedometer, as a new survey has revealed that three in five motorists struggle to keep within the speed limits despite their best intentions.
As reported by the Daily Telegraph, an online poll of 3,000 drivers by the ...
'A bit of elbow grease' boosts resale value, experts claim
Tuesday, 28 September 2010 by Joseph Jeffries
Motorists looking to sell a car for cash can add value to their vehicle by spending a bit of time and money on cleaning it up, according to a Daily Telegraph columnist.
Owners who sell their cars privately often find that local newspapers and used car magazines are full of similar vehicles, but journalist ...
Lamborghini unveils Blancpain edition Gallardo
Monday, 27 September 2010 by Hannah McLaverty-Williamson
Lamborghini and Blancpain, the world's oldest luxury watchmaker have joined forces to create the new 199mph Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Blancpain Edition.
A combination of expertise in technology and design sees the new Lamborghini boast a mighty rear spoiler and an engine cover designed for maximum ventilation, which are both features derived from the race cars of the ...
UK car output rises by 37%
Friday, 24 September 2010 by Joseph Jeffries
78,000 new cars rolled off production lines around the UK last month as the nation's motor industry continues its strong recovery from the recession.
According to Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) figures quoted by The Press Association, production rose by 37% compared with August last year.
There was a 22% rise in commercial vehicle output ...
Price of parking could soon soar across UK
Thursday, 23 September 2010 by William Hobson
The price of parking could become a significant motivation for selling a car, as The Daily Telegraph reports that prices and penalty charges could soon rise by 40%.
According to The Telegraph, ministers are currently considering proposals from the British Parking Association to overhaul the entire system of parking ...
Range Rover Evoque has arrived
Thursday, 23 September 2010 by Sarah Howard
The latest offering from Land Rover has finally been revealed to the public, showcasing its compact looks and high-spec design in a series of official pictures.
Going on sale to eager car buyers in summer 2011, the Evoque is to officially debut at the Paris Motor Show next month amongst a flurry of ...
Ian Fleming's old car sells for £80,000 at Goodwood Revival auction
Wednesday, 22 September 2010 by Laura Nineham
A car which was once owned by James Bond creator Ian Fleming has been sold for £80,000 at auction.
According to The Telegraph, the rare sports car went under the hammer at the Goodwood Revival racing festival near Chichester on Friday. The 1962 AC Aceca Coupe is one of only six surviving Ford-powered Acecas in the world.
As reported by BBC News, the ...
'Boy racer' reputation hits young male motorists' pockets
Wednesday, 22 September 2010 by Joseph Jeffries
Car insurance premiums for young male drivers are 79% higher than those paid by young women, according to new figures published today.
Easier Finance cites research by moneysupermarket.com, which found that the cheapest premium for an 18-year-old male was £4,897, with the average premium for men of that age standing at £7,917.
In ...
£24m grant for green cars approved
Tuesday, 21 September 2010 by William Hobson
Car buyers looking to go green could find their options dramatically expanded over the next few years, as the government has recently awarded a grant of £24m to six manufacturers for the development of sustainable motoring technology.
Last week, Transport Secretary Phillip Hammond announced that despite ongoing ...
Car computing systems could alert emergency services of a crash
Monday, 20 September 2010 by Laura Nineham
Cars equipped with in-car computer systems could become so advanced that they can call the emergency services if they are involved in a crash, reports The BBC.
The prediction came at a symposium which considered the changes that small, smart processors in cars could bring.
"The car is probably going to be the most compute-intensive possession that we will have," ...
Maserati to unveil GranTurismo MC Stradale in Paris
Monday, 20 September 2010 by Joseph Jeffries
Maserati will launch a new, 'hardcore' version of the the GranTurismo S at the forthcoming Paris Motor Show, according to various motoring news sources.
The GranTurismo MC Stradale is based on GranTurismo S, and it set to become the fastest, lightest and most powerful car in the Maserati range.
A significant part of the new model's inspiration also comes from Maserati's ...
Hotter version of the Audi R8 planned
Monday, 20 September 2010 by Sarah Howard
The rumour mill surrounding Audi is working overtime, with motoring circles discussing the possibility of a top of the range GT RS variant of the R8.
According to the team at Auto Express, a barnstorming twin-turbo charged V10 R8 could be on the horizon, with some help from the experts at MTM. After spying a hardcore version of the popular supercar at a garage near the ...
Celebrity endorsements don't influence car buyers, new survey reveals
Friday, 17 September 2010 by Joseph Jeffries
A What Car? survey has revealed that just 1% of car buyers would definitely let celebrity endorsements influence their thoughts when deciding which car to purchase.
More than 1,000 people took part in the poll, of which 87% said they would pay absolutely no attention to adverts featuring ...
1961 family Jag reluctantly on sale
Thursday, 16 September 2010 by William Hobson
Making the decision to sell a car for cash can be hard but few people will have faced the same reluctance as Basil Thompson of Evansville, U.S. As reported by the Evansville Courier Press, this British ex-pat isn't just selling a car - he's selling a vintage 1961 Jaguar.
Mr Thompson, 85, inherited the ...
Used car buyers should take time over buying, says OFT
Wednesday, 15 September 2010 by William Hobson
The Office of Trading has recommended that used car buyers take their time when purchasing a second-hand car, as many are discovering faults after they have made their purchase.
According to BBC News, a study of complaints registered with the OFT's advice service, Consumer Direct, has shown that many used car buyers have ...
Toyota to release six new hybrids by 2012
Tuesday, 14 September 2010 by Joseph Jeffries
Toyota has announced plans to launch six new hybrid vehicles by 2012, as the firm looks to keep a competitive edge in the burgeoning green car market.
By adding six more models to its range, Toyota will boast a total of 20 hybrid models and will be in a strong position to compete with rivals such as Nissan, who are also developing hybrid and all-electric vehicles.
The ...
Porsche Panamera proves a worldwide hit
Monday, 13 September 2010 by Joseph Jeffries
Porsche's Panamera GT is proving to be a big hit with car buyers around the world, according to sales figures published by the German manufacturer.
As reported by Auto Evolution, Porsche sold 22,518 Panameras worldwide in the model's first year on the market, with 2,530 units sold in Germany alone. ...
Secret BMW revealed
Friday, 10 September 2010 by Sarah Howard
A cloak and dagger marketing campaign has revealed a new weapon in BMW's armoury, a new electric hybrid coupe according to Top Gear.
The German car-makers strategy has involved emblazoning a matte black prototype with the strapline 'dontblogaboutthis.com' inviting curious car fans to visit the site, which features pictures of the mysterious ...
Peugeot offers first glimpse of all-electric iOn
Friday, 10 September 2010 by Joseph Jeffries
Peugeot has given the motoring world its first glimpse of the firm's new, all-electric iOn, ahead of the car's official UK launch later this year.
The iOn, which is based on Mitsubishi's electric i-Miev, offers motorists an efficient, spacious, safe and comfortable driving experience. Peugeot also says the car will offer unprecedented silence and a ...
Bentley Continental GT brings new meaning to 'luxury motoring'
Thursday, 9 September 2010 by Joseph Jeffries
The revamped Bentley Continental GT is set to take luxury motoring to a whole new level, with the latest model boasting a range of state-of-the-art features.
Bentley has added a host of new gadgets to the updated version of the hugely popular Continental GT, including an 8-inch touchscreen entertainment system with built-in Google Maps-powered ...
£51 billion to be spent on new and used cars in next 6 months
Wednesday, 8 September 2010 by Joseph Jeffries
The number of people planning to buy a new or used car in the next six months has hit a three-year high, according to figures from the Sainsbury's Finance Car Buying Index.
The research suggests that 7.68 million are planning to buy a car between now and February 2011, a figure that represents a 49% increase on the ...
Lotus supermini unveiled
Wednesday, 8 September 2010 by Sarah Howard
More well-known for its sporting credentials, car manufacturer Lotus is delving into the small but perfectly formed world of superminis, according to motoring commentators.
With a plethora of new models on the design board, Lotus has been a busy car-maker in recent months. This new 'Global Small Car' will add to existing plans for a revamped Esprit and two front engined GT ...
Prices for new Ford C-Max to start from £16,745
Tuesday, 7 September 2010 by Joseph Jeffries
Ford has announced that prices for its new five-seat C-Max will start from £16,745 when it goes on sale next month.
According to What Car?, the new five-seat C-Max will go on sale at the same time as the Grand C-Max - a larger seven-seat model that will cost from £18,745.
Lamborghini releases teaser photo of Murcielago successor
Tuesday, 7 September 2010 by Joseph Jeffries
Italian supercar maker Lamborghini has released its first teaser photo of the car that is widely tipped to replace the iconic Murcielago.
A photo of Lamborghini's new concept has been published by various motoring news sources today, and it is thought that the Italian giant plans to release five more images before an official unveiling in Paris later this month.
While ...
New car sales down 17.5% in August
Monday, 6 September 2010 by Joseph Jeffries
New car sales fell 17.5% in August compared to 2009 figures, as the end of the cash for cars scrappage scheme continues to discourage new car buyers.
According to Society of Motor Manufacturers (SMMT) figures quoted by BBC News, 55,305 new cars were registered in August this year, which represents a 17.5% fall on ...
Mazda celebrates 100,000 MX-5 sales in UK
Friday, 3 September 2010 by Joseph Jeffries
Japanese car manufacturer Mazda has chalked up its 100,000th MX-5 sale in the UK - twenty years after the first model arrived in British showrooms.
According to Autocar, British motorists make up around 10% of global and 40% of European sales since the iconic sportscar's launch in 1990.
The MX-5 was first unveiled at the Chicago Motor Show in 1989, arriving in the ...
Lexus 'luxury hybrid' to go on sale in October
Thursday, 2 September 2010 by Joseph Jeffries
The new Lexus CT 200h hybrid will go on sale next month, according to an official press release.
The luxury brand's latest offering will be available in showrooms from October, following its official market launch at the Paris Motor Show later this month.
With the CT 200h, Lexus is making its first steps into the burgeoning crossover market. News of the launch is sure to get ...
Ferarri recalls Italia 458s after fire reports
Wednesday, 1 September 2010 by Joseph Jeffries
Italian car firm Ferrari has decided to recall every single Italia 458 it has made so far, after the car was found to carry a design flaw that can cause it to set on fire.
The recall comes after photos of several burnt-out Italias emerged on the internet last month. Five of the £170,000 vehicles are believed to have been destroyed by fire this year, according to ...
Saab 9-4X poised for LA Auto Show debut
Wednesday, 1 September 2010 by Joseph Jeffries
Saab has confirmed that the new 9-4X crossover will make its official debut at the LA Auto Show in November.
Back in June, Saab announced in a press release that the 9-4X would be unveiled 'later this year.' However, a recent post on the LA Auto Show's Twitter account confirmed November as the official date. ...
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