Mini Happy Returns - Sixty years on... ...Feature 2 in our special celebratory series by Dave Moss. "My, how you've changed!" Major development changes in the classic Mini's lifetime were few and far between. Most of the reasons for that were wrapped up in the downhill slide into a complex financial nightmare that began after BLMC was formed in 1968 – delivering plenty of lost opportunities … [Read more...]
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.
Ferdinand Piëch: 1937-2019
Ferdinand Piëch: 1937-2019. Kieron Fennelly looks back at an extraordinary and crucially important career in the motor industry… Ferdinand Piëch died suddenly on August 25th. Once the most powerful man in the auto industry, he was also instrumental in the early development of the Porsche 911 and on more than one occasion, its reprieve. From his earliest days where he worked with Hans Mezger … [Read more...]
Accreditation scheme for electric vehicles gains ground…
Robin Roberts describes the NFDA's Electric Vehicle Approved accreditation scheme... "It is extremely positive to see franchised retailers embrace NFDA’s Electric Vehicle Approved accreditation scheme which demonstrates the efforts the automotive retail industry is making to drive the growth of the electric vehicle sector", said Sue Robinson, Director of the National Franchised Dealers … [Read more...]
It’s a Gift! – Seasonal News from the British Motor Museum
UNIQUE PRESENTS FROM THE BRITISH MOTOR MUSEUM... The British Motor Museum has everything all wrapped up for Christmas, whether it’s a day out admiring over 300 British classic cars or a thoughtful and unique gift. The Museum's gift voucher includes 2 admission tickets and a souvenir guidebook as a memento. The gift, which is attractively presented in a red envelope, costs just £25+p&p, a … [Read more...]
News – Aston Martin DBX Unveiled
Robin Roberts reports on the arrival of a vital new car for Aston Martin… The first Aston Martin DBX five-seat SUV will roll off new production lines in South Wales in Spring 2020. Breaking new ground for the 106-year-old luxury British marque, the DBX was unveiled simultaneously in the Beijing, China motor show and in the £250M St Athan, Vale of Glamorgan assembly plant today. The DBX … [Read more...]
NEWS – BRITISH MOTOR SHOW 2020
BRITISH MOTOR SHOW 2020 – to be held at Farnborough. Story by Chris Adamson. Plans have been announced to revive the British Motor Show name in August 2020 - but it is going to be very different to the last time an event with a similar name was held at the Excel Centre in London in 2008. For starters ‘International’ has been dropped from the title and rather than London it is going to be held … [Read more...]
Used Car Sales on the increase…
Robin Roberts reports on the latest sales figures for secondhand cars in Britain... The SMMT said used car sales rose 0.9% in Q3 after nine quarters of decline. Some 2,076,382 transactions took place between July and September, 18,925 more than the same period in 2018. Demand for diesel models was up 1.4% in the quarter with 858,442 changing hands, while petrol sales were flat with a slight … [Read more...]
Insurance industry under scrutiny from the Financial Conduct Authority
Young drivers could be paying more than they should for car insurance... Robin Roberts tells all... A new report sheds light on the practices price comparison websites are implementing to persuade vulnerable young drivers to part with their hard-earned cash - when they already pay 149% more than national average on their insurance. Earlier this month the Financial Conduct Authority released an … [Read more...]
Mitsubishi (and Volvo) PHEV news…
MITSUBISHI MOTORS OUTLINES PHEV SALES FACT FROM FICTION MYTHS. Plus… Late news in from Volvo re. free electricity for their new PHEV customers David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) tells all. At a recent motoring media briefing, Conor Twomey, General Manager Internal Communications and Government Affairs for Mitsubishi Motors in the UK, outlined the issues the industry is having with … [Read more...]
Honda CR-V Hybrid EX AWD – Road Test
Honda’s CR-V has been a tough, reliable contender in the SUV market for nearly 25 years... Kim Henson assesses the latest 2019 Hybrid version, in range-topping EX form, with all wheel drive and CVT automatic transmission. Before I describe the current CR-V in self-charging Hybrid form, I’d like briefly to reflect on the history and reliability of the models bearing that name so far. At the … [Read more...]
Audi TT quattro sport – A modern classic much enjoyed
Collector’s dream or aged Golf in drag? The first edition of Audi’s TT is 21 years old and divides opinions sharply, as Jeremy Walton discovered when he bought a limited edition TT quattro sport… Kim adds: A very warm 'welcome aboard' to Jeremy as a contributor to Wheels-Alive. He will already be known to many readers as a highly experienced motoring writer, especially in terms of covering … [Read more...]
Honda Civic 1.5 VTEC Turbo Sport Plus – Road Test
Honda’s well-respected Civic line-up has been winning friends for decades. Kim Henson test-drives a current model, in 1.5 litre VTEC turbocharged ‘Sport Plus’ guise… (All words and photographs by Kim). The overall competence of Honda’s Civic models, in each of their generations, shines through when you talk to owners past and present, and, importantly, in conversations with sources in the … [Read more...]
Classic rallying – We have ignition – or maybe not…
MONTE MINI MISSES ITS SPARK... A graphic example of the challenges facing the crews in next year’s classic Monte Carlo rally was highlighted today in the centre of Glasgow. A Monte Carlo Mini from the Sixties – identical to the ones which scored success in the 1967 Monte Carlo Rally – should have been squeezed into Glasgow City Chambers to launch the start of the historic re-run of the event … [Read more...]
Five ways to keep track of your company’s assets (including vehicles!)
Take care of your company's assets... With a valuable company comes valuable assets, and they need to be taken care of. One of the best ways to do this is to keep a close eye on your most important belongings. This ranges from vehicles to products, so be sure to look into the best options for you and your company. Ideally, you’ll have key products that you need to track, and with a concise … [Read more...]
The Motor Ombudsman’s Knowledge Base records over 100,000 article views since January launch
Motor Ombudsman’s Knowledge Base grows in visitor numbers... The Motor Ombudsman receives more than 100,000 article views across its online Knowledge Base during the first nine months of 2019 Easy-to-navigate information resource for motorists introduced in January, and now features 113 different sets of questions and answers in relation to buying, owning and maintaining … [Read more...]
Power to the people? Electric now or not electric now, that is the question…
ELECTRIC POWERED UK CAR SALES ARE NOT YET ELECTRIFYING! David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) reports. VW e-Golf, MG ZS EV and Nissan LEAF briefly tried News So far this year (8-months) official figures show that UK sales of BEV cars (Battery Electric Vehicles) have risen by 93.1% over the same period last year to 17,393 registrations. But before we think the motoring world has … [Read more...]
Revised VW Passat – First Impressions
LATEST GENERATION VW PASSAT DEBUTS IN THE UK. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). From its launch in 1973 The Passat is now Volkswagen’s longest-lived name-plate after the Beetle went out of production this year. With over 30 million sold worldwide in 46 years, the Passat is the best-selling mid-size car in the world after eight versions have been launched. In the UK the Mark 8 models … [Read more...]
Ineos Bridgend confirmed
A £600M new car investment has been confirmed for Wales, writes Robin Roberts. The anticipated Grenadier 4x4 vehicle will be assembled in a new factory at Brocastle, backing onto the current Ford Bridgend Engine plant which is due to close in 12 months with the loss of 1,700 jobs. Grenadier will initially create about 200 jobs in Bridgend and 300 more over time but there are likely to be still … [Read more...]
TVR News
Robin Roberts reports on good news for TVR devotees... The TVR sports cars’ Welsh factory will be fitted out for assembly of its 200 mph Griffith supercar, the company has told its enthusiastic owners’ club. Jones Brothers have been appointed to carry out the work on its site adjacent to the A465 Heads of the Valleys road and overlooking Ebbw Vale. In a statement, the TVR Car Club said, … [Read more...]
Beaulieu International Autojumble 2019
It’s the ‘big one’; time once more for the Beaulieu International Autojumble. Kim Henson was there again, and asks himself why… (Photographs by Kim, with many more, individually acknowledged with thanks, provided by Chris Adamson). Why do people attend the Beaulieu Autojumble, and what is it that keeps them coming back, year after year? Well, for starters of course there are the vintage and … [Read more...]
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