Aston Martin recorded a pre-tax loss of £78.8 million in the first half of this year, due to lower-than-expected sales in Europe and expansion costs – but company boss Andy Palmer insists the firm’s ambitious growth plan remains on track. The publication of Aston Martin Lagonda latest results came a week after the firm issued… Continue reading Aston Martin posts £78.8m loss in first half of 2019
Author: Autocar Magazine UK
LEVC produces 2500th TX hybrid taxi in Coventry
London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) has produced the 2500th example of its TX range-extender hybrid taxi, marking a significant production milestone for the firm. Production of the low-emission model began in January 2018 at the company’s purpose-built Coventry facility following a £500 million investment from Chinese parent company Geely, which took over the British firm in 2013. The factory… Continue reading LEVC produces 2500th TX hybrid taxi in Coventry
Farewell to the V12: celebrating the endangered engine
You start to really hear the engine and, here’s the thing, feel it, too. It’s not a howl like that made by the best six-cylinder motors, nor the rumble and thunder of a crossplane-crank V8. In fact, it’s almost impossible to define without resorting to the kind of terms that have become clichés because they… Continue reading Farewell to the V12: celebrating the endangered engine
Citroen concept’s radical wheel design to make production
“The 19_19 has high seating and next-generation tyres developed with Goodyear,” says design director Pierre Leclercq. The freedom to repackage the car around a skateboard is allowing Citroen to experiment, the big wheels concept providing plenty of potential benefits. One is that the occupants ride higher without the need to build up the vehicle’s bodywork,… Continue reading Citroen concept’s radical wheel design to make production
New Chevrolet Corvette: Stingray name confirmed for reinvented icon
[embedded content] While it’s not clear yet if those technical problems have been overcome, a Corvette dealer in New Jersey was taking $1000 deposits for the new model, even before the reveal date confirmation. In a further break with tradition, the C8 Corvette will be sold alongside a version of the current car. Sources inside General Motors,… Continue reading New Chevrolet Corvette: Stingray name confirmed for reinvented icon
Jaguar Land Rover receives £500m government loan guarantee for EV production
Jaguar Land Rover has received a £500 million loan guarantee as part of a new government initiative to support UK car manufacturers’ electrification schemes. In a meeting of automotive industry leaders at 10 Downing Street, Theresa May announced that the guarantee would be provided by UK Export Finance. The nature of the investment means that if… Continue reading Jaguar Land Rover receives £500m government loan guarantee for EV production
The new Mini Electric has been a decade in the making
It’s nearly a decade since the field trials of the Mini E prototype in the UK. Loaned to selected members of the public (as well as in other countries including the US and Germany), it was an experimental car that lost its rear seats to make way for a battery pack. Much of BMW’s interest… Continue reading The new Mini Electric has been a decade in the making
Volkswagen ID 3: new Nissan Leaf rival seen barely disguised
[embedded content] The company says it has received pre-orders for more than half of the launch edition versions of its Renault Zoe rival. Customers in 29 European countries have been able to pay a deposit to pre-book one of the 30,000 examples of the ID 3 First models, which will feature a WLTP-certified range of 261 miles… Continue reading Volkswagen ID 3: new Nissan Leaf rival seen barely disguised
UK government invests £37m in twelve EV charging projects
The UK government has confirmed investment in twelve British engineering projects to “transform electric charge-point infrastructure”. The £37 million fund, which was announced last year as part of the government’s Road to Zero strategy, is now allocated to support innovations including wireless charging for EVs. Urban Foresight, a “smart city consultancy”, has been given £3 million so… Continue reading UK government invests £37m in twelve EV charging projects
Ferrari one-off models have five-year waiting list
The growing trend for one-off Ferraris is in response to clients’ increasing demands for extreme personalisation, says Ferrari commercial and marketing boss Enrico Galliera. Such is demand, Galliera says unique models “have the longest waiting list of all our product lines” at four to five years. “The client has not only a unique car but… Continue reading Ferrari one-off models have five-year waiting list