DFT CLAIMS NO FINES FOR ZEV MANDATE IN 2024
The Department for Transport has stated it is confident no car maker will be hit with fines, for failing to meet the requirements of the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate of 2024, due to the many different ways a brand can be compliant. If you want to read more, click this AMOnline link here.
JLR STATE GEAR SELECTOR SETUP STAYS FOLLOWING TRAGEDY
A coroner has urged JLR to change their gear selector system by including an “intermediary step” to engage the drive as required. A tragic accident occurred when the driver of an electric Jaguar relied on feel to pick correctly but ultimately failed, which led to the death of a child. JLR, whilst expressing sympathy over the incident, stated they comply with all legal requirements. You can learn more, by clicking this BBC News link here.
ROLLS ROYCE INVESTS £300M IN NEW PRODUCTION CAPACITY
Rolls Royce will be upgrading their Goodwood production facility, with a £300 million investment, ahead of a second electric model reveal. More important, perhaps, than the second ev model, is that this will allow even more personalisation of cars being sold. To read more on this, click the link here to an Autocar article.
TESLA BEATS FORD TO MOST RECALLED BRAND IN 2024
In the US, Tesla has taken the dubious crown of the brand with the most recalls, from Ford in 2024. The latest is 700,000 for tyre pressure sensors not working as hoped. That brings the total of 15 recalls. Click this San Antonio Express News article link for more.
TESLA DRIVER ASSISTANCE COMPUTERS FAILING
The computers controlling Tesla’s ‘Self Driving’ ADAS system are failing. This is causing serious issues, including disabling other aspects and technology in cars. Getting replacements is tricky and there is a long lead time due to how the company likes to do business. If you want to read more, click this Jalopnik article link here.
WAYMO TAXI GOES IN CIRCLES TRAPPING OCCUPANT
A Waymo in Arizona, trapped an occupant whilst circling the airport car park, which he could not stop or get help. The man nearly missed his flight as it took so long to rectify the situation. You can see more, by clicking this BBC News article link here.
SCOTTISH DRIVERLESS BUS ROUTE SHUT DOWN
The much heralded driverless bus project, set up with Stagecoach, called CAVForth, has shut down 18 months after beginning. The claim is a lack of passengers. To read about this, click this link to an article from The Scotsman.
AFTER 23 YEARS A ROAD UPGRADE IS SET TO FINISH
A project, started in 2002, to upgrade the A465 Heads of the Valleys is set to be finished. Seemingly an example of how not to do things, the team has finally overcome all the issues which will enable communities to be easily linked to the rest of the country and no longer ‘cut off’. Click this BBC News article to see the details of this enormous project, the mess and the hope for the future.
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NEW NEW CAR NEWS –
Mazda 6e
Mazda will be bringing their electric saloon, which is known as the EZ-6 in China, to the UK under the 6 name. As we said when we covered EZ-6, it is a very good looking car and importantly it IS a car and not a SUV. 300-345 mile range, depending on spec, this is expected to be priced from just under £40,000 when it arrives in 2026. Click this Autocar article link for more.
Afeela 1
The Sony Honda collaboration is due to produce a car, under the brand name Afeela. The Afeela 1 is another (nice to say that) electric saloon. You’d better really want one and have really deep pockets as prices will start at the merest sliver under $90,000. Question is, will anyone want a bland looking EV that offers nothing the market already gets and usually for a lot cheaper? You can see more by clicking this Top Gear article link here.
Honda 0 Saloon and 0 SUV
Also at CES, Honda revealed their Series 0 cars, the Saloon 0 and SUV 0. We’ve seen, for so many years now, an iteration of the Saloon 0 design, whilst the SUV seems to be influenced by Polestar’s 3. The chaps fail to be excited by either and perhaps are indicative of how far behind Japanese companies are. Even now. Click this Autocar article to read more.
LUNCHTIME WATCH: EVO CAR OF THE YEAR 2024
That time of the year has come around again, the EVO Car of the Year video is now out. Watch as the team show off the contenders and pick their ultimate car of 2024. Click this YouTube link to watch the fabulous film.
CONFIGURATOR OF THE WEEK: ROLLS ROYCE SPECTRE
We return to fantasy shopping, with the Rolls Royce Spectre configurator. Click this link to have a go your self.
To see Alan’s choices, click this link here.
To see Andrew’s selections, click this link here.
AND FINALLY: BODY KITS
Liberty Walk, the company that likes to bolt on an arch extension, has revealed one kit that is not that, the Silhouette Works GT Lamborghini Miura. It looks good too. However, if you do miss the exposed rivets look, they also have a new MX-5 kit that will warm your cockles. Click this Hagerty link to read more.
