Blogs

https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/last-volkswagen-beetle-drives-sunset-002027161.html The writing has been on the wall for years. But yesterday saw the last Volkswagen Beetle roll off the assembly line in Puebla, Mexico bringing an end to one of the most iconic vehicles ever made. Sad, yes, but also inevitable. The VW Beetle was developed in 1938 after Adolf Hitler wanted a car that would be affordable for the people with mass production beginning in…

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-48865702 The above BBC link tells us that new car sales are down in June. The fact that car sales are down for a fourth consecutive month is bad enough. But add in that alternatively fuelled cars, ie hybrids and plug-in hybrids, are also down in the month of June is really a kick in the teeth as the UK tries its best to become a zero-emission…

I’m often asked which is better, purchasing a new or used car on a PCP (Personal Contract Purchase) or simply buying the car outright? Alas the answer isn’t straightforward as it really depends on the individual and their financial preferences. The age old “if you can’t afford it, don’t buy it” has been cast aside as automakers have either created inhouse finance departments or aligned themselves with…

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-06-10/audi-recalls-first-electric-vehicle-in-u-s-on-battery-fire-risk The above Bloomberg link points to a story showing Audi's voluntary recall of all its new E-Tron SUV's sold in the US (1644 total) due to the risk of battery fire. It's important to note that NO fires have been reported. The recall came about after five cases of owners flagged a battery fault light that appeared on their dashboards. Audi has since declared that the…

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/may/30/electric-vehicle-drivers-at-risk-by-charging-from-home-mains-supply The link to the Guardian article highlights a critical issue concerning those EV owners who charge at home. No, it doesn't talk about the risk of your battery powered EV unexpectedly catching fire, but does discuss the heightened risk of a domestic electrical fire if proper care isn't taken while charging your EV at home. The most alarming feature of this story is the statistic that…

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/may/09/dyson-patents-reveal-plans-for-an-electric-car-with-off-road-potential The above link from the Guardian points to an article that shows plans for Dyson and their foray into the world of EVs. It's no secret that Dyson were planning on launching an EV, but the company has done a good job of ensuring all information regarding any Dyson-branded EV was to be kept firmly under wraps by employees. The article highlights that founder Sir James…

https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/save-dying-sedan-automakers-steal-100000754.html The above link points to a story showing that car manufacturers are launching saloons in all-wheel-drive (AWD) or four-wheel-drive to compete alongside ever-trendy SUVs. I thought I'd share some thoughts on this with you... For context, the rise in popularity of the SUV with their (mostly) AWD of 4WD drivetrains has seen a fall in sales of the humble saloon. In response to this, car manufacturers…