UK car manufacturing was also given a boost in April as output rose by 5.2% from April 2017 to 127,952 units, putting the brakes on a production downturn that has been in motion all year. Last month, UK car plants received a 7.3% increase in demand from the domestic market, while overseas demand was up… Continue reading UK car manufacturing recovers 5.2% in April; engine building reaches new peak
Author: Autocar Magazine UK
Toyota RAV4 diesel production axed
The diesel version of the Toyota RAV4 has become the latest victim of the brand’s commitment to remove oil-burning models from its line-up. As part of its pledge to focus on petrol and electrified powertrains, Toyota has taken the sole 2.0-litre diesel variant of the RAV4 out of production. A brand spokesman told Autocar that “there will… Continue reading Toyota RAV4 diesel production axed
Analysis: the challenges facing Jaguar Land Rover
The decision last month to lay off 1000 contract staff out of a total 40,000 workforce may be a disaster for those affected but, on the face of it, it does not signal serious structural issues for Jaguar Land Rover’s business. That said, although JLR has expanded at pace since its near-death experience after the… Continue reading Analysis: the challenges facing Jaguar Land Rover
UK car manufacturing bounces back by 5.2% in April
UK car manufacturing was given a boost in April as output rose by 5.2% to 127,952 units, putting the brakes on a production downturn that has been in motion all year. Last month UK car plants received a 7.3% increase in demand from the domestic market, while overseas demand was up by 4.7%. In total,… Continue reading UK car manufacturing bounces back by 5.2% in April
Black cab maker LEVC reveals plug-in hybrid van
The London Electric Vehicle Company, previously known as LTC, has revealed the first image of its plug-in hybrid van, a sibling vehicle to the new TX black cab. LEVC said it believes the van market “is ready for a disruptive new entrant – which will offer a very different value proposition”. First drive of the new… Continue reading Black cab maker LEVC reveals plug-in hybrid van
Rimac: We will build our name as a serious hypercar manufacturer
The steady rise in the car industry of Croatian firm Rimac is illustrated not only by some of its clients – Aston Martin and Koenigsegg, for starters – but also by its own ambitious hypercar plans. Its new C_Two electric hypercar has astonishing performance – 0-60mph in 1.85sec, outdoing the already crazy figures of its… Continue reading Rimac: We will build our name as a serious hypercar manufacturer
UK electric motor firm Equipmake ready to become world’s top supplier
Equipmake, the Norfolk-based electronics R&D company, is about to begin an unprecedented expansion phase that, within five years, will convert it to a tier one manufacturer of electric motors for cars, making “hundreds of thousands a year”. The firm, which over the past decade has used a highly successful phase designing KERS systems for Formula… Continue reading UK electric motor firm Equipmake ready to become world’s top supplier
Ballistic blast-resistant Skoda Superb Estate launched
Skoda is offering a ballistic blast and bullet-resistant version of the Superb Estate in a co-engineering project with a British-based team. Based on the 187bhp 2.0 TDI version the Superb Estate, the £118,688 armoured model looks almost completely identical to its regular siblings but is certified to PAS 300 civilian protection, meaning it can protect against blasts from missiles and bullets.… Continue reading Ballistic blast-resistant Skoda Superb Estate launched
European commissioner: ‘Diesel cars are finished’
European commissioner Elzbieta Bienkowska has branded diesel cars “the technology of the past”, saying that “I think in several years they will completely disappear”, with the Volkswagen Dieselgate scandal being a catalyst for this. Bienkowska, speaking to Bloomberg, said that following the emissions scandal, public sentiment is moving towards cleaner cars and a greater awareness of emissions. The… Continue reading European commissioner: ‘Diesel cars are finished’
DS 4 and 5 production ends as part of drastic line-up changes
DS has ended production of its slow-selling 4 and 5 hatchbacks as part of an aggressive product plan designed to turn around shrinking global sales. The PSA Group premium brand is now only selling what a spokesman described as an “extensive supply” of existing stocks for the 4 and 5, both of which have suffered from dwindling sales and contributed… Continue reading DS 4 and 5 production ends as part of drastic line-up changes