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Old cars, new cars, borrowed cars & blue cars. If it steers it's here!

Old cars, new cars, borrowed cars & blue cars. If it steers it's here!

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News & Views

Our take on what’s been happening in the world of motoring

We appreciate that these days there are vast quantities of motoring news items freely available to all, from huge numbers of global sources. It would be impossible to bring them all to you through these pages – so we are not even going to try!

Instead, we will include selected motoring-related stories which we feel will be of interest. Depending on the item, we hope that they will also inform, encourage, entertain and provoke further thought!

Each item will be dated, and as new stories arrive, older posts will be archived chronologically.

SMMT figures show higher car sales levels in June 2025

4th July 2025

Manufacturer and dealer incentives meant the UK’s new car market grew for the second consecutive month in June, as registrations rose 6.7% to 191,316 units, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) reports... It was the best June since 2019, helping lift first half performance 3.5% above the same period last year, although the market … [Read more...]

Simply great rallies at Beaulieu this summer

4th July 2025

Simply enjoy the Beaulieu Rallies scheduled for summer 2025... Beaulieu tells us: (All words and photopgraphs from Beaulieu). The season of Simply rallies ramps up this summer at Beaulieu, with some of the most popular events of its calendar fast approaching. From rugged Land Rovers to elegant Aston Martins and timeless Jaguars, there’s a dedicated rally to suit all motoring tastes. Simply … [Read more...]

British Motor Museum and Panivox awarded a LaunchPad grant

2nd July 2025

The British Motor Museum tells us: (Photograph and all words from The British Motor Museum). The British Motor Museum, in collaboration with Panivox, is proud to announce it has been awarded funding through the Innovate UK Launchpad: Immersive and Creative - Coventry and Warwickshire programme. The grant will support the continued development of RichCast, a ground-breaking interactive … [Read more...]

Daihatsu – Gone, but far from forgotten…

1st July 2025

Dave Moss tells the story of Daihatsu in the UK... (All words © Dave Moss). Some car brands seem like unshakeable fixtures on the British market... while others, in blink-and-you-missed-it existences - like UMM, Sao, and Lonsdale - have briefly been, and quickly gone, and seem unlikely ever to return. Then there's Daihatsu, which began building trucks in 1919, placing it amongst Japan's oldest … [Read more...]

Beaulieu’s 2025 International Autojumble to feature new classic car park feature

27th June 2025

Beaulieu tells us: (All words and photographs from Beaulieu). The biggest outdoor sale of motoring items in Europe returns as Beaulieu revs up for its iconic International Autojumble on Saturday 6th – Sunday 7th September. With over 1,000 stands to explore, complete cars for sale in the Automart and exciting auctions hosted by Bonhams | Cars, this iconic weekend is a must for motoring … [Read more...]

Austin Counties Car Club 50th Anniversary Rally June 2025

25th June 2025

  Kim Henson reports on a fabulous Austins Counties Car Club celebratory get-togther for owners and enthusiasts of Austins produced between 1939 and the mid-1950s… (All words and photographs © Kim Henson and Wheels-Alive). It was in 1975 that Ian Wheater set up an organisation to support the preservation and enjoyment of Austin models built between 1939 and 1954 (and Austin A40 … [Read more...]

Largest Custom and American Show yet at Beaulieu

19th June 2025

Beaulieu tells us... (All words and photographs from Beaulieu). Beaulieu’s Custom and American Show was back and bigger than ever on Sunday 15thJune, with 500 custom and American motors on display and over 9,500 attendees enjoying this great family show. The Father’s Day spectacular delivered more excitement than ever with famous cars from TV and film, a Transformers display with walking … [Read more...]

Explore exciting senses at the British Motor Museum this summer…

18th June 2025

The British Motor Museum tells us... (All words and photographs from the British Motor Museum). The British Motor Museum is inviting families to come along and explore exciting senses this summer from 19 July – 1 September! In conjunction with their brand new sound-based exhibition ‘Beep-Beep, Yeah!’, visitors can experience the Museum’s collection through looking, touching, smelling and … [Read more...]

The Motor Ombudsman is awarded the 2025 TyreSafe Online and Social Media trophy for its ‘Make Time for Tyres’ campaigm

18th June 2025

The Motor Ombudsman tells us... • The Motor Ombudsman's 'Make Time for Tyres' campaign has won this year's TyreSafe Online and Social Media Award • The Motor Ombudsman collected the Michelin Tyre PLC-sponsored trophy in front of a 200- strong audience at this year's TyreSafe Briefing held at the National Conference Centre in Birmingham • The multi-platform initiative, supported by TyreSafe, … [Read more...]

Standards Galore… at the Standard Motor Club’s 2025 International Rally at Daventry

17th June 2025

'Standard procedure'… The Standard Motor Club’s annual International Rally took place over the long weekend of 13th to 15th June, and was based at Daventry. Kim Henson was there and reports on a delightful and varied event, with warm sunny weather to make it even better... (All words and photographs© Kim Henson and Wheels-Alive). Standard Motor Company vehicles were built over six decades from … [Read more...]

Travelling in Europe by car is unfamiliar for more than half of British motorists, according to a Motor Ombudsman poll

17th June 2025

Driving in Europe; do you know what's required? The Motor Ombudsman tells us... (All words and images from The Motor Ombudsman). • The Ombudsman for the automotive sector is urging motorists to be prepared and familiar with the 'rules of the road' when taking their car on a holiday to mainland Europe this summer, to stay safe, legal, and to help avoid incurring fines • A Motor Ombudsman … [Read more...]

OMODA 9 Launch (and First Impressions) at The House of OMODA

9th June 2025

Guy Loveridge describes his first experience of the new OMODA 9... When one is invited to a launch by a new brand, it is always exciting to see how they approach things. To be invited to their “House” lifts the excitement a notch. When that house turns out to be a hugely stylish, architect designed affair on the outskirts of Hamble and the opening discussion with fellow journalists over breakfast … [Read more...]

May sales figures for new cars in the UK show an interesting story…

5th June 2025

Heavy discounting by car-makers is pushing fleet and businesses drivers into electric cars, writes Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). Private buyers still prefer to have petrol or diesel engines, according to the May registration figures. Registrations of petrol cars are higher than the combined figures for pure battery, plug-in and mild hybrid electric models and that’s without the diesel … [Read more...]

National Motor Museum’s ‘Chatty Caravan’ inspires conversations in the community

5th June 2025

The National Motor Museum tells us... (All words and photopgraphs from the National Motor Museum). A restored classic caravan is helping the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu to engage with the local community.  The ‘Chatty Caravan’ – otherwise known as ‘Caravan for the Community’ - is a small but perfectly formed 1971 Sprite 400, and a time capsule of fab 70s styling. This joyful, mobile … [Read more...]

Electrified classic Mini, developed by Fellten – Brief First Impressions

4th June 2025

Kim Henson travels in a classic Mini converted to fully electric operation… (Text and all photographs © Kim Henson and Wheels-Alive). Recently, at a multi-vehicle driving event in Somerset, I had the chance to ride as passenger in a classic Mini modified to fully electric drive using a propulsion kit developed by Fellten of Bristol. Jerome Andre, who was at the Mini’s wheel for my brief … [Read more...]

British Motor Museum to host three STEM Careers Days this summer

3rd June 2025

The British Motor Museum tells us: (All words and photographs from The british Motor Museum). The British Motor Museum is proud to host three STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Careers Days on 24, 25, and 26 June with engineering experts from global leader in consulting, technology services and engineering - Capgemini. These STEM Careers Days will include a range of interactive … [Read more...]

The Motor Ombudsman partners with Ben to help ‘Steer’ automotive businesses through employee mental health challenges

3rd June 2025

The Motor Ombudsman tells us: (All words and photographs from The Motor Ombudsman). • The Motor Ombudsman has partnered with automotive industry charity Ben to create ‘Steer’, a new quick-reference guide to help automotive businesses recognise and support employees encountering mental health and wellbeing challenges • The printed and free-to-download guide from The Motor Ombudsman’s … [Read more...]

The Motor Ombudsman revises its Codes of Practice to take into account the changing motoring world

2nd June 2025

The Motor Ombudsman expands its Codes of practice to reflect the changing automotive landscape... They tell us: (All words and images from The Motor Ombudsman). • The Motor Ombudsman’s four established CTSI-approved Motor Industry Codes of Practice have been updated to reflect the changing face of the UK’s automotive landscape, technological innovation, and shifts in consumer buying … [Read more...]

Gavin and Stacey cars to go on display at Beaulieu

23rd May 2025

They tell us: (Photograph and all words from Beaulieu). TV cars from one of the UK’s most successful rom-com series are set to go on display at Beaulieu, home of the National Motor Museum this Spring. The critically acclaimed and much-loved British romantic comedy series Gavin & Stacey, created by James Corden and Ruth Jones, officially ended with its final episode airing in December … [Read more...]

Beware when driving and parking in Birmingham – Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) hotspots revealed

22nd May 2025

(Above image: Dimitar/Adobestock). Road specialists Instarmac lift the lid on areas of the city in which you need to take extra care to avoid running into problems... They tell us: Photograph and all words from Instarmac; their road products: https://www.instarmac.co.uk/products/ultracrete/pas-hapas-manhole-systems/enviro-mastic/ Driving in Birmingham can be tough at times, right? The city … [Read more...]

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Contributors

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Our well-respected contributors live and breathe motor cars; aren’t we lucky?

Contributors to the site include talented, highly-respected people (so they tell me) on the hallowed membership list of the Guild of Motoring Writers, and from the similarly well thought-of Western Group of Motoring Writers. In addition there are valued contributions from other knowledgeable and capable motoring writers who have something useful to say about all aspects of driving and running vehicles in the 21st Century. All of our team are passionate about motor cars!


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