March 31, 2010
Time called on Government scrappage scheme
Time has been called on the Government’s popular scrappage scheme, car manufactures took their last orders yesterday.
The scheme was widely regarded as a success and was designed to boost the industry during the economic downturn.
400,000 customers were helped with buying a new car through the scheme, which accounted for 20% of all new car registrations.
Lord Mandelson, Business Secretary said: “The scheme was always time limited and today as it closes I am pleased to see scrappage has delivered the results we aimed for – not just for manufacturers, but for the whole industry and its supply chain. The figures show that this scheme gave vital support, boosting demand when the industry needed it most, helping to position the auto sector to meet the challenges of building a strong low carbon future.
The insane Focus RS500 revealed: 500 to be built + 345hp
Ford has released details and pictures of their ASBO enabled Focus RS500 – the new RS is likely to a be bucking bronco of are car with a ridiculous 345bhp under the hood.
The limited Edition – just 500 to be built – comes with a revised version of the RS’s 2.5 litre turbo charbed engine which will produce 345bhp and 340lb ft of pulling power. So you can expect some biblical torque steer.
The RS will 0-62mph in 5.6 seconds which is frightening for a front wheel drive car, Ford’s engineers have left the complicated ‘RevoKnuckle’ front suspension setup untouched because they reckon it can handle the extra grunt.
They have done extensive testing at the mecca of motor-sport Nurburgring – where they did 500 torturous laps of the track and the engineers reckon they can hut an eight-minute lap time.
Given its pub brawler look, the Focus RS is finished in panther matte black, metallic black 19-inch alloys, a twin blade rear spoiler and special number plates.
Check out the teaser video below.
March 30, 2010
Ford’s Volvo sold to China’s Geely for $1.8 billion
Ford have finally managed to sell Swedish car maker Volvo, they have made a loss but have manage off load the struggling company – China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group has paid $1.8 billion – making Geely the new owners of the super-safe Swedish car brand.
The agreement was signed by Ford’s Booth and Geely’s chairman, Li Shufu, and witnessed by Li Yizhong, the Chinese minister of industry and information technology, as well as Swedish Minister for Enterprise and Energy Maud Olofsson.
China has already surpassed the US market as the world’s largest car market in 2009. It has also proved to be a safe haven for all auto makers; including the battered ones like General Motors or Toyota Motors. While General Motors has gained a firm footing on Chinese grounds, Toyota’s sales in Chinese market has largely remained unaffected.
Geely, parent of Geely Automobile Holdings, was named by Ford as the preferred bidder for its loss-making Swedish unit in October 2009. It plans to keep the brand and operations — including Volvo’s headquarters, production facility and research center – in Sweden.
Ford had been trying to sell Volvo since late 2008 to focus its resources on managing its core Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brands.
Foreign visitors banned from holding UK driving licence
Foreign nationals who are not permanent residents in the UK will no longer be eligible for a driving licence, under strict new rules announced today by the government.
Junior minister Paul clark said non-EU residents who are are in the UK on a temporary basis would not be allowed to apply for licence.
In a written statement to MPs, he said: “It is right that those whose status remains undecided and those without leave should not be seeking to establish the benefits of ordinary settled life in the UK, including access to driving licences.
“Transitional provisions will apply to those with an outstanding licence application at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).”
The crackdown was announced as an effort by the UK border Agency to prevent wide-spread identity and immigration fraud by foreign nationals.
It would seem that this is a government plan to get more foreign nationals on the National Indentity Card system.
He told MPs: “As a preliminary measure, I am informing the House that from today those applying for a provisional as well as full driving licence will have to demonstrate that they are lawfully resident in the UK, not simply lawfully present, in order to qualify for a driving licence.
“Those who are present in the UK on temporary permission or temporary release under the Immigration Act 1971 will not be considered eligible for a driving licence.
“Those granted leave to enter or remain in the UK for at least 185 days will continue to be able to apply for a licence whilst their leave is extant, provided they otherwise qualify.”
March 29, 2010
Hennessey Venom GT: 1200BHP Elise
Hennessey are to build a 1,200 hp Elise, called the Venom GT, they have managed to fit a 1200hp twin turbo charged Corvette engine into the dinky little racer.
Following in the footsteps of the AC Cobra, Hennessey are looking to lengthen and restructure the chassis to transform it from a 200hp lightweight into a 1,000hp-plus Veyron chaser.
It will weigh less than 1,100 kg, which will put it into Zonda territory in terms of power to weight ratio, and the suggested speed could be north of 250.
They will have to replace all the panels with carbon fibre and they have been hard at work on the aero package to ensure stability at 200mph-plus.
It’s gonna take some stopping too, which is why Hennessey has specced 380mm ceramic brakes, they have also courted help from gearbox specialists Ricardo, who happen to make the Buggatti Veyron’s gearbox.
It’s going to cost £450,000 and it will be more exclusive than most with only 10 being made a year.
Tracker traps car thieves in 14 minutes
Last week a stolen Range Rover Sport was recovered with the help of Tracker, in a record time of 14 minutes the after it was stolen in Coventry.
The silly car thieves managed to steal the high-end car from a suburb of Coverntry and left the car around the corner waiting to see if the car had tracker system. The police managed find the a car in a record time of 14 minutes.
Stuart Chapman, Police Relationship Manager for TRACKER says, “Thieves will steal prestige vehicles to order and park them up for a period to see if they have a tracking device. If the vehicle is still there a day or so later then they know they have got away with the theft and the car will normally disappear overseas. Without our unique partnership with the police this car wouldn’t have been found in record time.”
New Mercedes CL redesigned and renamed
The Mercedes CL has been given its latest facelift, and a new name as well – according to to our spies the newcomer will be re-names the S-Class Coupe and will go on sale in early 2011.
The styling is subtle to say the least, but expect to see more upright grille which features one chrome bar, rather than three. Also new will be the LED daytime running lights and refreshed front and rear bumpers.
Under the bonnet, power will come from smaller more efficient turbocharged V6 and V8 engines. A hybrid model has been touted too.
The new S-Class coupe is likely to be unveiled at the Paris Motor show in October this year.
March 26, 2010
Porsche 911 RS models through the ages – on video
Porsche GB has commisioned are rather cool video detailing the history of the 911 RS models – filmed in situ at the new Porsche Experience Centre in Silverstone.
Unlike most corporate videos, this one is remarkably free of commercial sells – although we should warn you that the presenter is tad bit biased. But we’re posting it because we reckon it’s a great video guide to the most hardcore of 911′s, tracing the history of the lightweight Renn Sport specials all the way back from 1973 original up to the present day.
Tato Nano bursts into flames
An insurance broker from India, had a lucky escape yesterday as his brand new Tata Nano burst into flames 45-minutes after he had picked it up the new car.
Satish Sawant had just purchased his shiny silver Nano, only to be told by a passing motorcyclist that his car was on fire.
“I have no idea what happened. A motorcycle rider overtook me and told me that the vehicle was on fire,” said Mr Sawant. “The engine was behind me and I did not realise that the car was on fire.”
Tata’s Nano has been a hot topic for all the wrong reasons since its launch last July with three cases of spontaneous fires breaking out reported last year.
Tata has put the problem down to a short circuit in an indicator stalk yet refused to recall the car. The Indian firm is yet commented on this latest incident.
March 25, 2010
The UK’s most expensive insurance claim for crashed Pagani Zonda
A test drive that ended in tears is going to cost UK car insurance company Aviva £300,000 after it was crashed in a test drive in Aberdeen.
Rumours are flying around the internet that it was 3 time world champion Jackie Stewart after an Aberdeen newspaper claimed Sir Jackie was the driver.
However a spokeswoman said it was not true, and added: “Sir Jackie wasn’t in the country. He’s never driven the car and doesn’t know the owner.”
The Pagani Zonda S, which would cost more than £500,000 to buy, was involved in a crash last September.
The car has been sent for repair to Modena in Italy, where the vehicles are made.
A spokesperson for insurers Aviva said: “This is the biggest insurance payout we have had for repairs to a private car in the UK.”
The spokesperson said: “This is out of the ordinary for an insurer.
“Although the vehicle was badly damaged, Aviva decided that the car may be repairable and set about making arrangements for the car to be shipped across to Modena, Italy, home of Pagani, the vehicle manufacturer.
“There are roughly only 10 Zondas produced per year and they are painstakingly constructed.”
The insurance claim was lodged by the test driver, not the owner of the car.
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