Groupe PSA has become the latest vehicle manufacturer to pause vehicle production in Europe, including both Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port and Luton plants, in response to the rapid acceleration of the coronavirus pandemic. The manufacturing group, incorporating Peugeot, Citroën, Vauxhall/Opel and DS, outlined a detailed schedule of planned factory closures. As well as the two UK plants, the shutdown… Continue reading PSA Group closes European factories to prevent coronavirus spread
Author: Autocar Magazine UK
Government to ask UK manufacturers to build ventilators
UK automotive manufacturing firms could be asked to produce ventilators for the NHS, as the health service’s resources are put under heavy strain due to the coronavirus outbreak. Reports suggest Prime Minister Boris Johnson will speak today (16 March) to engineering firms and vehicle manufacturers, including Ford, Honda, Rolls-Royce and JCB, to discuss whether their… Continue reading Government to ask UK manufacturers to build ventilators
Fiat Chrysler, Ferrari close factories amid coronavirus outbreak
Fiat Chrysler is halting production at the majority of its plants until 27 March, as the car makers reacts to the disruption caused by the coronavirus outbreak. It follows Saturday’s news that Ferrari will close its Maranello factory until the same date. The supercar firm cited supply issues as the reason. Premium brakes firm Brembo,… Continue reading Fiat Chrysler, Ferrari close factories amid coronavirus outbreak
Medical drone deliveries and e-scooter legalisation on the cards
Medical drone deliveries and legalising e-scooters are just two proposals the Government has announced as part of a consultation to make journeys easier, smarter and greener, it said. Alongside the review, funding of £90 million will lead to trials in three “future transport zones”: Portsmouth and Southampton, the West of England and Derby and Nottingham.… Continue reading Medical drone deliveries and e-scooter legalisation on the cards
New V6 hybrid ‘Esprit’ to lead Lotus expansion plan
Before these models arrive, this 2021 model will be the last series-production car to be spun off the current extruded aluminium platform used in the Evora. However, the car is not intended as a direct Evora replacement, instead sitting above it as a separate model. Autocar has learned that the new car will make use… Continue reading New V6 hybrid ‘Esprit’ to lead Lotus expansion plan
Lawrence Stroll to take bigger stake in Aston Martin
The investment fund headed by billionaire Lawrence Stroll has reworked its planned investment in Aston Martin – taking a bigger slice of the company as a result. While other car firms also suffered, the British company’s share price has been especially badly hit by market uncertainty sparked by the coronavirus pandemic. At one point earlier this week… Continue reading Lawrence Stroll to take bigger stake in Aston Martin
Apex AP-0 is £150,000, Brit-built electric sports car
Apex says the car is not intended to be a hypercar. “This is reflected in the price, power output and vehicle weight. Instead, this is a sports car that was designed to be light, fast and a statement of intent for Apex to create the world’s finest zero-emissions sports cars which are usable and comfortable… Continue reading Apex AP-0 is £150,000, Brit-built electric sports car
Lamborghini closes Italian factory due to coronavirus
Lamborghini has temporarily closed its Sant’Agata headquarters in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The Italian supercar maker will shut its doors from 13 March to 25 March in an effort to help contain the spread of the Covid-19 disease. Northern Italy, where Lamborghini is based, is currently the centre of the coronavirus outbreak in Europe. Italy has… Continue reading Lamborghini closes Italian factory due to coronavirus
LEVC VN5: name confirmed for taxi-based range-extender delivery van
LEVC has revealed its upcoming delivery van will be called VN5. The new van, based on the same range-extender electric vehicle technology as its new London taxi, is set to go into full production towards the end of 2020, at the company’s factory in Ansty, Warwickshire. Based substantially on the same architecture as the new TX black… Continue reading LEVC VN5: name confirmed for taxi-based range-extender delivery van
Czinger to follow up 21C hypercar “sooner than you expect”
The 21C is manufactured using innovative 3D printing and automation techniques, where computers calculate the necessary parameters (strength, weight, cost) of a specific component and then build it from either a composite or metal alloy, exactly to the required specifications. It is powered by an in-house developed 2.88-litre twin-turbo V8, driving the rear wheels via a seven-speed… Continue reading Czinger to follow up 21C hypercar “sooner than you expect”