Kim Henson briefly test drives a selection of current Kia models… (All words and photographs by Kim). At the moment it is the exception rather then the rule for a motor manufacturer to be doing well in terms of vehicle sales in the UK. However, bucking the general trend, Kia is doing very well indeed, increasing sales while for most of the firms all around them the figures are in reverse… At … [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.
Reasons put forward by Ford for closing the Bridgend engine plant… and what will happen next at the site?
Ford face triple dilemma at Bridgend... ...By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Global demand for the Ford triple-cylinder EcoBoost petrol engine is lower than expected and has driven the decision to close its production line in Bridgend next February. Stuart Rowley (pictured left), president, Ford of Europe, in a conference call said the employees and management at Bridgend … [Read more...]
Kia e-Niro – First Impressions
KIA’S ROAD TO GREENER MOTORING WITH THE e-NIRO… David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) takes a test drive. Alternatively fuelled vehicles, pure electric, petrol-electric hybrids and plug-in hybrids saw a 21% increase in UK new car sales last year to 141,270 units, but only 15,474 of those vehicles were pure electric models. So far this year only around 2,000 battery electric cars were sold in … [Read more...]
Ford’s Bridgend engine factory to close
End of the Road for Ford engine production in Bridgend... Today, 6th June 2019, it has been confirmed that Ford is to close the company's engine factory at Bridgend, after nearly 40 years of building motors there. In a statement, the firm said, "After detailed consideration, Ford today confirmed the start of a consultation with its unions concerning the potential closure of the Ford Bridgend … [Read more...]
Autogem at Automechanika
Autogem, with its tyre-related trade products, is set to make first impressions last at Automechanika... Autogem is promising to make first impressions last with retailers and garage networks at Automechanika, when it showcases its latest aftermarket solutions including revolutionary TPMS equipment and tyre tread reading technology. The company’s eye-catching stand at the NEC (location K121) … [Read more...]
Ford Kuga – Road Test
FORD KUGA MID-SIZED SUV STILL HOLDING ITS OWN FOR POPULARITY. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The Ford Kuga five door mid-sized SUV was introduced in 2008, the second edition in 2016 and the third generation is due from 2020 with Mild Hybrid, Plug-In Hybrid and Full-Hybrid powertrains plus petrol and diesel engine options. But before the all-new Kuga appears with its new global C2 … [Read more...]
Beaulieu’s Spring Autojumble celebrates 25 years…
Beaulieu’s 2019 Spring Autojumble is just the job to start the summer… Kim Henson and Chris Adamson were both there. (Photos by Kim, Chris, and the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu – all as individually credited). This year Beaulieu’s Spring Autojumble, which took place on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th May, celebrated 25 years of this event, which is very comprehensive but a little less huge … [Read more...]
Would you buy a car without actually seeing it ‘in the metal’? Many do, it seems…
SIGHT UNSEEN CAR PURCHASES ROCKET AS CONSUMERS PLACE FAITH IN ONLINE DEALERSHIPS. The number of drivers paying for used cars they haven’t seen first now stands at more than one in 10 (11%) as online dealerships rocket in popularity For those who haven’t bought sight unseen before, more than half (52%) of people would be likely to do so if a pre-sale inspection was carried … [Read more...]
Can you read a road map or do you trust your sat nav?
Is our sense of direction taking a turn for the worse with too much trust in sat navs? Most of us are dependent on sat navs, but with news stories about drivers ending up on train tracks, in rivers, or hundreds of miles from their destination, it seems we aren’t very capable of using them correctly. In any event there are many other reasons (including keeping our brains active!) still to learn … [Read more...]
Bridgestone breaks new ground with OE releases
More BMW models equipped as standard with Bridgestone tyres... Bridgestone, the number-one tyre supplier to BMW, has pushed the boundaries of regular supply and demand through the latest tyre technology, as exemplified in its new X5, 8 Series and 3 Series partnerships, where the company’s premium products are featured as original equipment. Covering the range with … [Read more...]
Ginetta LMP1 Proves Pace And Reliability At Major Test
Ginetta LMP1 Powers Ahead... The Ginetta G60 LT P1 LMP1 car, now powered by AER’s turbocharged V6 engine, has emerged from a major three day test at Motorland Aragon having conclusively proved both its pace and reliability as Ginetta close in on customer deals for the 2019/20 FIA WEC season. The car achieved the second fastest time of the three day test (1:18.626), just 0.021 of a second from … [Read more...]
Alfa on the up
Turning the corner with Alfa Romeo… …Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency) reports. Car sales are a series of twists and turns but there are strong signs that Alfa Romeo has turned the corner this year. A recent independent survey of owners who have used their models for some time concluded that the sporting Italian brand was second only to Lexus in terms of overall satisfaction with … [Read more...]
British Motor Museum’s Mini celebrations continue at Stratford Festival of Motoring
Mini Magnificent! The British Motor Museum is once again supporting the Stratford Festival of Motoring and displaying an iconic Mini from its collection. At this year’s Stratford Festival the Mini is taking centre-stage to celebrate its 60th anniversary with one of the streets being renamed ‘Issigonis Alley’ in honour of Mini’s designer Alec Issigonis. The Festival, which takes place in … [Read more...]
Honda Civic 1.0 VTEC Turbo EX – Road Test
LAST POST SOUNDS FOR THE BRITISH BUILT HONDA CIVIC HATCHBACK. David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) reports… When the 10th generation Honda Civic hatchback was introduced in 2017 Honda proclaimed in their presentation material that, “The all-new Civic Hatchback is to be built in Europe and exported globally, Honda’s UK plant in Swindon continues key role in Civic production, €270m investment in … [Read more...]
Transportation and related environmental challenges to consider…
Some information that you may find interesting about transportation and related environmental issues... With the future of transportation and the environment very much in the news and of concern to us all, there is much information available on this link... https://www.oponeo.co.uk/tyre-article/on-the-road-to-greener-future Kim adds: Having myself seen at first hand the destruction of the … [Read more...]
Motor Ombudsman’s online Knowledge Base proves popular
The Motor Ombudsman’s online Knowledge Base records over 25,000 article views in first quarter... The online Knowledge Base was launched in January 2019 to make it faster and easier for consumers to resolve their queries and complaints in relation to buying and owning a car Over 12,000 searches and 25,000 article views were seen during the first quarter of this year The … [Read more...]
Electric Classic Cars – really!
Electric classic cars... a reality now! By Robin Roberts. Classic cars are being given a new life for the 21st century with a “heart” transplant and an electric powertrain by a Welsh enthusiast and engineer. Richard Morgan set up Electric Classic Cars in Newtown to give much-loved classics and popular cars a new lease of life with a modern twist. “I use to compete in the British Historic … [Read more...]
Bridgestone aims high – for The Moon!
Bridgestone to Join International Space Exploration Mission with JAXA and Toyota. Company supporting research on tyres for manned, pressurized rovers required for lunar surface mobility... Bridgestone Corporation today announced that it will take part in an international space exploration mission together with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Toyota Motor Corporation … [Read more...]
Flipping Bangers – Series 2 starts soon…
More bangers galore... Robin Roberts reports... In the second series of the hit BLAZE UK commission of Flipping Bangers, petrol-head pals Will Trickett and Gus Gregory fix and ‘flip’ neglected old cars for a profit. Having ditched their day-jobs to trade in the cars that people avoid, the duo are risking it all once more, as any losses will come out of their own pockets. To cover … [Read more...]
Motorway service station survey – some definitely better than others!
BEST TO REST? The UK’s best and worst motorway service stations... Taking a break at a motorway service station isn’t always convenient, just necessary. If you’re bursting for the loo, need to grab some lunch, or been driving for a long period of time, it’s vital to take a break. But where should you stop? New research from Northgate Vehicle Hire reveals the UK’s best and worst motorway … [Read more...]
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