Author: Robin Roberts

Lexus has shaken up the UK car market in every sector it’s entered and with the latest UX urban SUV its challenge intensifies. Intended as an introduction to the Lexus range, the UX is their first contemporary compact SUV with the urban driver in mind rather than the country living/ loving driver who needs a serious off-roader. That’s not underselling the Lexus UX as it is the first to get the latest Global Architecture–Compact platform with low centre of gravity and suspension designed to promote good handling with comfort. At night it turns heads with 120LEDs across the tailgate with…

The £2.6 Billion Britishvolt gigaplant which held the promise of 5,000 construction jobs and 3,000 permanent posts will not now be built at St Athan and the company says it will go to a 230 acres site in Blythe, Northumberland. The decision follows a few months of talks with Welsh Government during which time Britishvolt appointed Italian designer Pininfarina for scheme. Doubts about the Welsh plant going ahead started to surface a few months ago and recently the company announced its R&D centre would be in the Midlands close to the heart of the UK car industry. The production plant…

The Mazda MX-5 R Sport Convertible is limited to 150 examples in the UK, where it has consistently led the sector since the 1990s with revisions and upgrades. This stand-out MX-5 Convertible features free-of-charge Polymetal Grey metallic paint and a grey soft-top hood, while 16-inch RAYS gunmetal alloy wheels and piano black mirrors finish the unique exterior look of this special edition which is an addition to the 2020 Mazda MX-5 line up while inside the R-Sport features burgundy Nappa leather seats with silver stitching, ensuring the interior has the same bespoke feel as the exterior. Based on the 1.5-litre…

Second-hand battery and electric cars are being sought by drivers, says the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders in their latest report on the used car market. The UK’s used car market increased by 4.4% in Q3 after two consecutive quarters of decline, according to the latest figures published today by the SMMT. During the busiest quarter since the end of 2016, some 2,168,599 transactions took place between July and September, 92,217 more than the same period in 2019, with September recording the largest growth, up 6.3%. Despite the growth, spurred by the re-opening of showrooms and easing of lockdown…

SEAT is dipping its toe in the market waters with its Mii pure electric five-door city car and the promise of many stablemates over coming years. The Mii petrol models replaced with the first all-electric car from the Spanish subsidiary of the German VW Group shows how international the focus has become because it’s made in Slovakia. Developed from the Mii city car with its internal combustion engine, the Mii electric breaks new ground for the company and means existing SEAT owners and newcomers to the brand will have a new commuter car to consider and live with. Electric car…

The average independent garage charges £47.47 per hour and it’s risen less than the rate of inflation over the last eight years. A survey of 3,338 repair shops which are members of the Independent Garage Association found that this year the typical cost in England was £47.90, in Scotland it was £45.52, Wales worked out at £40.61 and Northern Ireland was £40.55. Inside the M25 the hourly rate was about £55.48 but that’s not the dearest area, which is the Isle of Wight at £75 an hour. Compared to average rate of inflation exceeding 2.5% over each of the eight…

Respect is earned, not awarded, in the motor industry, and one of the most influential vehicle brands is Jeep, now on the eve of celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2021. Think about that for a minute; it was born out of WW2 conflict, battled through the 20thcentury’s consumer culture and taken on many imitators. It’s doubtful that Land Rover would exist if it wasn’t for Jeep and after seven decades it’s still going strong. Jeep is planning a number of dedicated events throughout 2021 to highlight its achievements and bring it closer to fans, COVID-19 restrictions permitting. There are four…

The firebreak lockdown has wiped 25% off new car sales in Wales, revealed figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. It is a warning to England which has just gone into a month’s lockdown as opposed to the fortnight shutdown in Wales which ends on monday after 3,677 new cars were sold by Welsh dealers in the three weeks they could open last month. These contrasted with a rise of almost 25% in Scottish new car registrations over the same period. October new car sales in UK and Wales UK best sellers Mercedes A-Class Vauxhall Corsa Ford Fiesta…

Aston Martin’s future electrified vehicles will have Mercedes-Benz powertrains when they go into production in St Athan in a few years. The technical deal is part of a massive investment by Daimler taking a 20% stake in the British luxury car-maker over the next three years. The two have been working together since 2013 when MB supplied petrol engines to the sports cars made in Gaydon and this year’s new DBX SUV built in South Wales. St Athan will be the brand’s centre of EV manufacturing with a new Lagonda saloon but AM’s original plan to develop its own EV…

Since September 2010 it has been snapped up by over 1.5 million owners around the world who wanted to add style to the school-run and other social outings. Building on its link with Renault and Mitsubishi, the Nissan Juke  now uses a bigger platform underneath so it’s roomier than the first generation which turned heads with its sleek profile and cutting edge interior details. Those distinctive looks both outside and in are now softened but enhanced and Nissan has packed in some of the most advanced driver assistance and convenience features in a family car for under £25,000. In fact…