Circuit of Wales paid chairman’s second company… Robin Roberts elaborates... As Welsh Government scrutinises a detailed financial proposal to build the £425M Circuit of Wales, it has emerged that nearly £1M was given by the developers to another consultancy headed by the project's chairman. Michael Carrick set up the Heads of the Valleys Development Corporation, which has received £9M grants … [Read more...]
Features by Robin Roberts
MoT Test – Don’t let your car fail!
A million cars on UK roads will undergo their first MoT test over the next few weeks and a third are expected to fail… Robin Roberts reports… In the first quarter of 2014, the SMMT was excitedly telling us about 688,000 63-plate and 465,000 14-plate cars that went through showrooms and onto the roads as Britain recovered from the financial crisis of 2008/09. It was a slow recovery which had … [Read more...]
Used Car Sales Flying High…
Record sales of used cars in the UK. Robin Roberts reports… Britain’s used car market reached record levels in 2016 with 8.2 million vehicles finding new owners – an uplift of 7.3% – according to figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Meanwhile, 1.8 million used cars changed hands in the fourth quarter, with a 5.5% rise in October making it the second busiest … [Read more...]
Circuit of Wales meets deadline to progress further…
Circuit of Wales has given investor details and a timescale for development of the £425 M motor sport circuit and related businesses to the Welsh Assembly. It has complied with a deadline set two weeks ago by Welsh business secretary Ken Skates and means it will now go to a more detailed plan with rigorous examination of proposals and assertions, and progress towards ground-works starting in the … [Read more...]
‘Made in Britain’ – Good News for the British motor industry…
Britain’s car industry is really motoring again. By Robin Roberts. Car production hit a 17-year high in 2016 with exports at record levels and 1.35M shipped worldwide. Half of those went to Europe while Americans took nearly 50% more than they did in 2015 and it became the UK’s biggest single consumer country. Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders covered the UK’s 15 … [Read more...]
Circuit of Wales Decision Time
Crunch Time for Circuit of Wales… By Robin Roberts (Miles Better News Agency). Circuit of Wales has been given two weeks to declare its major backers and show a revised business plan to Welsh Government. Economy Secretary Ken Skates yesterday told Welsh Assembly Members that the Heads of the Valleys Development Company should speed up the scheme overlooking Ebbw Vale. He said there was … [Read more...]
2017 Subaru Levorg Sports Estate Road Test
Robin Roberts (Miles Better News Agency) samples Subaru’s latest estate… The Subaru Levorg is not what you might call eye-candy, but it has EyeSight. That’s the latest all-embracing collision avoidance technology which reduces the likelihood and severity of accidents. It may not be in the forefront of your mind when looking for an all-purpose 4x4 quality estate, but the Levorg really can … [Read more...]
An ‘easy fit’ new Mazda-based transmission kit arrives to ‘up-gear’ your MGB
A new five speed conversion for MGBs can make the car even more enjoyable. Robin Roberts reports… Few would argue that the MGB remains Britain’s favourite classic sports car or that it is almost as at home in modern traffic as it was in that of the 1960s/70s. However, it can nevertheless be updated to advantage and British Motor Heritage (BMH) is now stocking the superb Vitesse Global five speed … [Read more...]
Fiesta time from Monaco to Maesteg…
Who owns the Ford Fiesta, and where are they? Robin Roberts tells all… Maesteg is motor-city for the Ford Fiesta, although in fact the car was launched in Monaco…. (Kim adds… "and a younger version of our Robin was there for the occasion of that very launch!"). You are most likely to see one of the 40-versions of the car launched since 1976 on the streets of the South Wales town. The … [Read more...]
New Ford KA+ Zetec First Drive Road Test
Babies have a habit of growing up, just like the new Ford KA+. Ford, the leading new car sales brand in the UK for 40 successive years and 51 years for commercial vehicle sales, have recently introduced their latest challenger for sales, the new Ka+ City Car, although it is still the Fiesta ‘Supermini’ that remains the UK’s bestselling car overall. From its origins as a compact city car in … [Read more...]
Wheels-Alive 2016 in the mirror… UK car sales figures for the year
New car registrations are booming but there are doubts over who is actually making sales... …explains Robin Roberts. The SMMT said yesterday that 2,685,724 new cars were registered last year, a 2.3% increase on the year beforehand and fifth year of growth. Fleet sales took 1.38M of the 2.6M registrations. The analysis of the UK figures as a whole also shows the continuing decline in private … [Read more...]
Renault Mégane Sport Tourer First Impressions
Renault’s Mégane Sport Tourer... Assessed by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). The eagerly awaited estate version of the new Renault Mégane brings additional room and practicality to the range. Mechanically the same as the immensely popular Mégane Hatchback, the Sport Tourer offers a basic boot space with a low load floor of 521 litres (18.40 cu.ft), but folding away the … [Read more...]
Aston Martin SUV – ‘Made in Wales’
The forthcoming Aston Martin SUV, which will go into production at St Athan, will carry a ‘Made in Wales’ identity plate... Writes Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). The decision was revealed last night by Aston Martin Lagonda CEO Andy Palmer, as guest speaker at the Welsh Automotive Forum Networking Dinner, held near Cardiff. He told guests, “All our luxury sports cars have … [Read more...]
NEW Renault SCENIC and Grand SCENIC news and first drive views
Our guide to Renault’s newcomers is Robin Roberts (Miles Better News Agency). The fourth generation Renault SCENIC and Grand SCENIC MPVs, or ‘people carriers’ are now on sale. SCENIC prices rise from £21,445 to £30,645 while the Grand SCENIC enters at £23,375 and tops at £32,445. The SCENIC five seater and Grand SCENIC seven seater models are each offered in four trim levels that owners of … [Read more...]
New Honda NSX Road Test
By Robin Roberts and Miles Better News Agency. It’s the supercar of the moment. But that moment has lasted a long time - three years in fact. The new Honda NSX two seater coupé was announced three years ago and the first UK owners will get behind the wheels of their state of art supercar just about now. Only a handful will be introduced over the coming months and just two dealers will … [Read more...]
smart fortwo prime cabrio Road Test
By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Horses for courses is a particularly apt phrase to describe the smart fortwo… There’s no denying it was ahead of its time when the original model went on sale in 1998, and now the quirky two-seater rarely gets a second glance. The original car was a product of the cooperation between Swatch and Daimler/Mercedes-Benz. But in 18 years it has … [Read more...]
Jeep Renegade 2.0 140 hp Limited – Road Test
An assessment of Jeep’s latest 4x4 machine… By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Jeep is going on the warpath with its Renegade. As the founding company of the modern four-wheel-drive sector and who provided the inspiration for the legendary Land Rover brand, Jeep knows an awful lot about off-roaders. Their UK sales are flourishing this year, showing a near 40% increase for the … [Read more...]
Hot News – Circuit of Wales Update at 16th October 2016
The Circuit of Wales Development is Moving a Step Closer to Reality. Report by Robin Roberts (WheelsWithinWales). WheelsWithinWales understands that promoters of the £370m project at Ebbw Vales have now raised additional private capital for the scheme, which should meet Welsh Government requirements. Two previous bids for Welsh Government support to fund part of the project were rejected as … [Read more...]
Vauxhall Corsa Red 1.4T Road Test
It’s a Corsa, of Course… Put through its paces by Robin Roberts (and Miles better News Agency). Sometimes it’s what you know well which can give you the biggest surprise, like the Vauxhall Corsa Red… The new Corsa Red comes from a very familiar range of supermini sized cars offering bog standard three or five door styles, with a range of petrol or diesel engines and an assortment of trim … [Read more...]
Latest Volvo S90 and V90 First Impressions
New Volvo S90 and V90 Premium Brand Executive Models Arrive. By Robin Roberts and Miles Better News Agency. Swedish swish and sophistication come as standard in the latest Volvo S90 and V90 series… The new large premium saloon and estate models in Momentum or Inscription trims embody features from the large XC90 SUV with an emphasis on “relaxed confidence” through design, driving technology, … [Read more...]