GOVERNMENT CUTS RESTORATION RED TAPE

Following a long campaign from the Historic and Classic Vehicles Alliance and other similar associations, the Government has simplified the red tape around modifying and restoring vehicles. Notifications can be sent to DVLA for ‘significant structural modifications’ and the vehicle can retain the original license plate number and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). This is a big step forward. Click this Hagerty article link here to find out more.

ARIEL DOUBLING PRODUCTION CAPACITY WITH NEW FACTORY

Ariel, the Somerset based specialist performance vehicle manufacturer, have agreed a deal to buy more land that will allow them to double their production capability. If you want to read more, click this Autocar article link here.

HMRC RAISES EV MILEAGE CLAIM RATE

After lots of complaints were raised over the last announcement of the rate business mileage for electric cars could be claimed back at, HMRC has revised them. Now there are two tiers, home charging and public charging. However, the rates still aren’t great and frankly totally inadequate if you charge via the public network. To find out more, click this Autocar article link here.

PLUG-IN VAN AND LORRY GRANT EXTENDED

The UK Government has extended the plug-in grant for van and lorries, until “at least 2027”. However, the money is coming out of the £650 million we were told was for the Electric Car Grant (ECG), which turns out to also be improving the charging infrastructure across the country. Click this Autocar article link here, to read more.

DO NOT HOON YOUR EV FOR MORE BATTERY LIFE

A recent study has been misreported, according to Aviloo, battery experts. Many read the results to mean one must be very heavy with the right foot to extend the battery lift of one’s EV. That is not the case. You can find out more by clicking this Carscoops article link here.

TESLA DOES HAVE TO FACE CLASS-ACTION OVER SELF-DRIVING CLAIMS

A recent hearing, in front of a judge, between those trying to pursue Tesla in a class-action over mis-selling their self-driving system that has yet to make it to market even though they have taken money from people for it, has resulted in permission being granted to pursue the company. If you want to read more, click this Reuters article link here.

To read Ed Niedermeyer’s coverage of the hearing, click this link to his Bluesky post.

If you like what we do, on this show, and think it is worth a £1.00, please consider supporting us via Patreon. Here is the link to that CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

NEW NEW CAR NEWS - BYD Atto 2

BYD has revealed details of their Atto 2, a C segment electric SUV. Priced aggressively, at £30,850, it will win fans on that front along. A totally inoffensive design won’t cause people to flock to the brand but equally is not polarising. Click this Autocar article link here to find out more.

DS No4

DS’s bestselling model to date has been the 4. Hoping to capitalise on this the company has revealed specifications for the new No4, as it is called. There are a variety of powertrains and trim levels. To find out all about this car, click this link to an Autocar article.

VW announce new car blitz. Again.

Volkswagen has announced, once again, that it is bringing a raft of new cars to market in the next few years. We get to see the production ready ID.2 shortly, at the Munich car show, with some others also being shown for the first time. If you want to read more, click this Autocar article link here.

LUNCHTIME READ: THE MYTH OF THE LONE GENIUS CAR DESIGNER

As a society we have this ideal that there are individual designers who create some of the world’s most famous and fantastic productions, art and buildings. This is, of course, not true. Matteo Licata explains how this is not true in the car world too. Click this Hagerty article link here, for more.

LIST OF THE WEEK: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DEUTSCHES MUSEUM

Possible Germany’s finest car museum, the Deutsches Museum has a host of fabulous vehicles to gawp over. Autocar has share a slideshow with just a few of them. Don’t forget to tell the chaps if you agree with their choices. Click this link here to view your options.

To see the Goliath GP 700 Sport from Weird Car of the Day, that Alan mentioned, click this link here.

AND FINALLY: HOW MUCH FOR A BEETLE?

To round out the show we share a story about a Beetle project from back in the 1960s, where an American car dealer paid an eye watering amount of money to create the best limo Beetle. It recently sold at the Monterey Car Week auction. Click this link here, from The Autopian to read more.

FOLLOW UP: GOVERNMENT CONFIRM ECG ELIGIBLE CARS

The UK Government has released the list of car models that are eligible for the Electric Car Grant (ECG). There are a few surprises, including how no cars meet the Band 1 £3750 grant requirements. Click this link here, from EV Powered, to read more.

To see Nick Gibb’s Bluesky post, adding context to the question of how the Nissan Ayria was eligible, click this link here.

For the UK Government’s official list of eligible car models, click this link here.

FOLLOW UP: CITROËN ADDS MODELS TO ‘STOP-DRIVE’ RECALL

Citroën has now added new models to the previous ‘stop-drive’ order over faulty airbags. Car Dealer is reporting that before this around 120,000 vehicles were affected by the issue. Now that the C4 and DS4, built between 2010 and 2011, plus the DS5 built between 2010 and 2013 there is just a fraction under 10,000 additional vehicles. Citroën was already receiving a backlash on the perceived slowness in addressing the problem, this will not help. If you wish to learn more, click this Car Dealer article link here.

ROAD SAFETY CONSULTATION LAUNCHED

The UK Government has launched a road safety consultation, with a number of issues being given prominent place. For example, once drivers reach 70, they will have to have formal eye tests every three years to show they are fit to drive. Drivers with non seat belt wearing passengers will receive points on their license. There are more besides. Click this Autocar article link to read more.

UNSAFE ROAD VEHICLE NUMBERS RISE IN UK

In 2024, nearly 50% more vehicles that were found to be unsafe than the previous year. Tyres were the biggest issue but defective brakes too an alarming jump with 1190 drivers charged last year compared to 181 in 2023. To read more, click this Autocar article link here.

LONGBOW ADD MANAGEMENT HEAVYWEIGHTS TO BOARD

Longbow, the electric sports car start up, has announced that Mike Flewitt, Michael van der Sande and Dan Balmer are now on the advisory board. Flewitt was CEO of McLaren, van der Sande was at Alpine and Balmer was the boss of Lotus Europe. They will help the company as it works to bring a £65,000 lightweight two seater electric sports car out in 2027. If you want to find out more, click this Autocar article link here.

JLR THREATEN RIDICULOUS LEGAL ACTION

JLR sent a ‘cease and desist’ letter to the Rail Delivery Group, who run the National Rail website, due to them using the phrase “ranger and rover” to refer to ranger tickets and rover tickets. The car company decided that you are all too stupid to work out a rail company was not referring to a Range Rover. You will now only ever see the words if they are as follows, “ranger tickets and rover tickets”. If you wish to learn more, click this link to a piece in The Telegraph.

HYUNDAI TO CHARGE YOU TO SECURE YOUR CAR

Hyundai UK is now charging UK customers £49 to secure their cars from a known vulnerability. Unbelievable, but actually true. Click this link here, from The Register, to find out more.

If you like what we do, on this show, and think it is worth a £1.00, please consider supporting us via Patreon. Here is the link to that CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

NEW NEW CAR NEWS - Ford plans for the future

Ford has revealed the plans for their electric future, which goes from production to cars. They are going to shake up the way the make cars, which will allow them to make more affordable EVs. Models that will be brought out, from the new universal platform, include a mid-sized double-cab pickup, a hatchback, crossover, van and three row SUV. Ford admits this is a gamble, though. To find out more, click this Autocar article link here.

Kia simplifies model range

Kia UK has simplified their model range, as the Ceed is axed. Additionally they have slimmed down the Picanto range to one engine choice, whilst the Xceed gets a new range topping version. If you want to read more, click this Autocar article link here.

Stellantis recall due to fire risk

Stellantis is recalling 24 models, totalling just over 72,000 cars, due to loose nuts on fuel pipes that can lead to increased fuel consumption, with an ultimate risk of fire in the engine bay. Affected cars were built between 2023 and 2025 that have the 1.2 litre petrol engine. Click this Yahoo! News article link to check out the models involved.

DESIGNERS MOOD BOARD: KAI LANGER HEADS TO XIAOMI

Kia Langer, who was head of BMW i design has joined Xiaomi. Very few details have been revealed, including exactly what he will be doing. Click this electrive article link here to read more.

LUNCHTIME READ: CRIME DRIVEN TECHNOLOGY AND THE MOTOR BANDIT

In the inter-war period, the UK was gripped with fear about criminals using motor cars to enable them to commit crime. The reality was this happened significantly less than was imagined. A classic in the genre of ‘technology is bad’ and ‘society being whipped up by the media’. Fascinating read on how the police did have to adapt to this new threat. Click this link here to read more from The Journal of Historic Criminology.

LIST OF THE WEEK: THE BEST DASHBOARDS OF THE 70S AND 80S

If you think car makers have only recently taken to messing up interiors by being over complicated or oversimplified, think again. Here we are recommending you run through the slideshow provided by Autocar to see some of the more spectacular dashboards from the 70s and 80s. Click here to view your options.

AND FINALLY: A TINY HOME ON WHEELS

Toyota has a small people carrier that you can add to and configure the interior to replicate a lounge, a bedroom or an office. You can buy modular furniture to help transform the inside to match your requirements. Find out more, by clicking this Carscoops article link here.

JULY 2025 NEW CAR REGISTRATIONS

New car registrations fall, year-on-year, in July 2025 by 5%. Whilst the electric car grant is now available, which models are eligible and at what rate remains to be seen. This has had a knock on effect with registrations of EVs raising slower than expected. BEVs and PHEVs increased but all other powertrains declined. To read more, click this article linked from the SMMT, here.

JLR PROFIT PLUNGE IN FIRST HALF OF 2025

Mainly thanks to the tariff farcical situation, JLR saw profits in the second quarter of 2025, plunge by half. Whilst the UK has negotiated a deal that has been implemented, the EU’s one is not yet on stream, thus the Defender is still paying the price. Adding to their woes is the self inflicted issue of warranty costs, but outside of their control is volatile foreign exchange rates. if you wish to read more, click this Autocar article link here.

LOTUS LOSE ONE CEO AND FIND ANOTHER

Matt Windle has left Lotus, either of his own volition or was pushed, depending on who you listen to. The company has appointed Mao Jingbo, current president of China operations, to oversea the UK and European sector. This is the fourth head of the company in two years, with Windle lasting just four months. Click this Autocar article to learn more.

ASTEMO INVESTS IN BOLTON SITE

Astemo is investing £100 million at a site in Bolton, which will be staffed by 200 employees, to produce components for the next generation of EVs. They have received Government backing for this move. To find out more, click this article link from The Manufacturer.

NISSAN OPENS TRUCK CHARGING HUB

Nissan has opened a truck charging hub on it’s production site, in Sunderland. This is open to the public, but they will also charge up electric cab units that they use for their own purposes locally. You can learn more, from this link here to a an electrive article.

If you like what we do, on this show, and think it is worth a £1.00, please consider supporting us via Patreon. Here is the link to that CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

NEW NEW CAR NEWS - Honda Civic

Honda is updating the Civic, but you’ll have to be good to spot the differences, according to Motoring Research. Tweaks to the looks and the interior are the order of the day. Hybrid powertrain remains the same, as do the three trim levels. Prices start at £33,795. Click here to read more.

Nissan Micra

Prices and specs have been confirmed by Nissan for the new Micra. Order books open on 1 September and the starting price matches that of the Renault 5, which this is a rebadge of. The three trim levels are Engage, Advanced and Evolve. Prices start at £22,995. Click this Motoring Research article to read more.

VW to end the Touareg

Volkswagen are to end production of the Touareg in 2026 and there is to be no replacement. The company feel the role will be fulfilled by the cheaper Tayron that they released recently. Additionally, the ID5 is also being pulled from sale, in 2027. Click this Autocar article link for more.

DESIGNERS MOOD BOARD: ERCOLE SPADA PASSES AWAY

Ercole Spada passed away on 3 August 2025. His might not be a name that many know, however, his work is knows. From cars such as the Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato to Alfa Romeo Junior Z to the BMW E34 5-Series, we have all seen his work. To find out more about the man and his work, click this Octane article link here.

LIST OF THE WEEK: THE BEST SMALL CARS EVER MADE

Autocar has our recommended options for picking your favourite from many, when it comes to small cars. There are some questions about if all are exactly “the best” but nevertheless you have many to select from. Click here to check out what you could decide is the best.

AND FINALLY: IT’S BEHIND YOU

U-Haul is a famous American rental company, that allows you to hire vans of various sizes and trailers. Alan explains all to us unenlightened heathens outside of the US of A. However, they’ve developed and built a new trailer, one that will allow a lot more to be towed across the continent. Click here to read more, from Car and Driver.

FOLLOW UP: CAR FINANCE CLAIMS

The Supreme Court has ruled on car finance claims follow last years shock appeal decision that could have meant that lenders were liable for billions in compensation for mis-selling car finance schemes.

The court has ruled that dealers do not have to work solely for the benefit of customers, which covers most claims, however if the commission rate is excessive then there is a possibility of a claim.

What wasn’t covered in this is claims where the dealer and lender could increase the interest on their PCP or HP deal without telling the customer. Anyone who signed up to this is still able to claim. To read all about this complicated matter, click this link here from MoneySavingExpert.

FOLLOW UP: RENAULT GROUP ANNOUNCE NEW CEO

Just over a week after the interim CEO was announced, Renault Group have found their new permanent CEO, Francois Provost. He has been at the company for 23 years, with his latest position being head of procurement, partnerships and public affairs. Click this Autocar article link to learn more.

JLR LOSE ONE CEO AND FIND ANOTHER

Adrian Mardell is to retire from JLR, after 35 years at the company. The surprise news came out last week and by Monday the company announced his replacement, PB Balaji, who is the chief financial officer of Tata Motors. If you want to read more, click this Autocar link here.

STELLANTIS MAKE A BIG LOSS

First half year results are in for Stellantis and it is brutal. They have made a loss of £2 billion pre-tax. Tariffs are being blamed for a lot of it, but also a slow uptake on their B-segment offerings. The new CEO, Antonio Filosa, has said he will make tough decisions to help turn results around. To find out more, click this Autocar link here.

PORSCHE TAKES PROFITS HIT

Porsche’s operating profits dropped €2 billion in the first half of 2025. Once again tariffs are being blamed, but also they continue to lose market share in China. The company is looking at ways to save money, on top of the job cuts it has previously announced. You can read more on this, by clicking an Autocar article link here.

HELSINKI REPORTS NO FATALITIES ON ITS ROAD NETWORK IN A YEAR

Helsinki has not had a road traffic fatality, for over a year. Reasons for this excellent news are a combination of improved infrastructure, all road users working together, reduced speed limits, improved public transport and targeted police efforts. To find out more, click this yle article link here.

TESLA FOUND PARTIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR FATAL CRASH

A jury has found Tesla partially liable for a fatal accident that also caused life changing injuries to a passenger of a struck vehicle, after Autopilot was engaged. The driver of the Tesla vehicle claims he thought the driver assistance system would handle things whilst he retrieved his dropped phone. Tesla is to appeal the ruling. You can read more by clicking this article link from The Register.

If you like what we do, on this show, and think it is worth a £1.00, please consider supporting us via Patreon. Here is the link to that CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

NEW NEW CAR NEWS - Vauxhall Mokka GSE

Vauxhall has upgraded the performance and handling of the Mokka, with a hot-ish GSE version of their small SUV. This should be quick, not just in a straight line, but in the bends too. Click this EVO article link to learn more.

Jaecoo 5

Jaecoo is bringing the 5 to the UK very soon. This is the smaller sibling to the popular 7, with the same design cues, ie. takes a lot of ‘inspiration’ from Range Rover models. Prices will start at £24,505. Click this Autocar article link to read more.

Cadillac to return to the UK

Cadillac is to return to the UK soon, with two models. The first will be the Lyric SUV and most likely the Optiq SUV, both being electric. Other models were being discussed at GM head office. Click this Autocar article for more details.

LUNCHTIME READ: PEUGEOT’S BRILLIANT TORSION BAR REAR AXLE

We return to recommending articles after two weeks of videos, with a wonderful piece from Hagerty about Peugeot’s torsion bar rear axle. You get to learn the history of development and where it ended up. Superb nerdery abounds! Do enjoy. Click here to read all about it.

LIST OF THE WEEK: THE STRANGEST CAR PUBLICITY PHOTOS EVER PUBLISHED

Autocar provides a slide show of some classics of the genre “what on earth was marketing thinking?”, when it comes to cars and promotional pics. You must click this link here, as some of these have to be seen to be believed. Do you agree with the chap’s choices or do you have a favourite, let them know.

AND FINALLY: PETROL & PRIDE MEETING

The first Petrol & Pride meeting took place at the British Motor Museum recently, where LGBTQ+ petrolheads and their allies, gathered to celebrate their love of cars. This is a brilliant idea and we hope it continues for many year. Click this Autocar article link here to read more.

FOLLOW UP: ELECTRIC CAR GRANT FALLOUT CONTINUES

As more details are revealed and more people begin to understand all of the ramifications of the UK Government’s Electric Car Grant. Firstly, the list of car eligible for the two tiers of payments will be confirmed on 11 August 2025. The scheme went live on 16 July 2025. Click here to read an Autocar article on this.

Secondly, car companies can self-register cars for the scheme and as the rules include Fleet registrations, this opens up the ability for abuse. Whilst these cars contributed to the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate, now tax payer’s money will be used to support car companies to be compliant. Click this link here to read more on that from Autocar.

There are some suggesting that the overall scheme will have little affect, as was discussed on the show last week. Indicata, a motoring related data firm, has calculated that the grant will affect only 5.8% or 14.4% of new car registrations, dependent on which tier is sought. They also have used information from Italy’s attempt as a similar scheme that made a small impact. On top of all that they highlight the danger of dramatic depreciation for newly bought vehicles and those outside of the eligibility of the scheme. Click this link to read more from a Motor Trader article.

Some manufacturers are forging ahead and offering discounts on their cars at the same rate as the lower tier of the grant. The likes of Alfa Romeo, GWM, Hyundai, Leapmotor, MG and Volvo have already made their move. Click this AutoTrader article for more.

Another issued raised was that the scheme ignores the used market. The Independent Motor Dealers Association (IMDA) has called for a £1000 grant for used EVs. Click this Motor Trader article link here to read more.

FOLLOW UP: EMPLOYEE CAR OWNERSHIP SCHEMES IN CROSSHAIRS

The UK Government first brought up, what it felt, was the unfair practice of Employee Car Ownership Schemes back in the autumn. This is where a member of staff gets a new car, for a short period of time and then moves onto a new car, whilst paying a much reduced contribution that anyone outside of the scheme would. Proposed legislation will mean anyone taking advantage of such a scheme will be taxed as though that was a company car. To read more, click this Motor Trader article link here.

VW PROFIT DROPS 29% YEAR ON YEAR

VW financial results for the first half of 2025 show a drop of 29%, with a big hit in Q2 thanks to the US tariffs. Both the profit and revenue was down on market expectations. If you want to find out more, click this Yahoo! Finance article link here.

GEELY GROUP WELCOMES BACK FAMILIAR FACES

Lotus Group has appointed Jim Rowan, ex-CEO of Volvo, to their board. You can read more about that by clicking this Consumer Warranty Solutions page here.

Additionally, Thomas Ingenlath, ex-CEO of Polestar, is now a design advisor for the entire Geely Group. If you wish to learn more, click this Electric Vehicles article link here.

JLR PUSHES BACK LAUNCH OF ELECTRIC RANGE ROVER

JLR is reported to have pushed back the launch of the electric Range Rover, for further development and due to a lack of demand from consumers. Suggestions are this will impact other models lined up for launch. JLR issued a statement that stated “we will launch our new models at the right time”. To read further about this, click here for an Autocar article on the story.

If you like what we do, on this show, and think it is worth a £1.00, please consider supporting us via Patreon. Here is the link to that CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

NEW NEW CAR NEWS - Chery Tiggo 7

The second of two SUVs Chery is bringing to the UK, is the Tiggo 7. Aimed at the likes of the MG HS and Dacia Bigster, this will come with both a petrol and plug-in hybrid powertrain options. With the PHEV, the maximum electric only range is 56 miles. Prices are expected to start from £24,995 for the petrol and £29,995 for the PHEV. Both those prices undercut competition. You can read more, including the trim levels, by clicking this link from Autocar.

Subaru Uncharted

Subaru has revealed the latest tie-in with Toyota, the Uncharted. This is based on the C-HR+ with off-road abilities. Additionally, Subaru are clear to state they have re-engineered the steering and suspension setups to enable a “sporty and nimble character”. Pricing hasn’t been confirmed but is expected to start at under £40,000. Click this Autocar link for more.

Kia EV4 Fastback

Kia has revealed more details, including pricing, for the EV4 Fastback, which is expected in the UK from the autumn. Starting at £40,895, the lowest trim level is the GT Line, rising up to GT-Line S and a £45, 385 price tag. Click this EV Powered article link to learn more about what you can get for the money.

DESIGNERS MOOD BOARD: GILLES VIDAL LEAVES RENAULT

Gilles Vidal is leaving Renault, who he joined in from Peugeot in 2020, to become head of design for Stellantis Europe. He has overseen a resurgance in Renault’s design and is the second big loss for the company following the departure of Luca de Meo recently. If you want to read more, click this link to an Autocar article.

DESIGNERS MOOD BOARD: JEREMY OFFER LEAVES VOLVO

Jeremy Offer is resigning from Volvo thanks to the newly implemented ban on working from home. Offer was commuting between the UK, where his family is based, and Sweden. Nick Gronenthal, who leads automotive design for Volvo, is the interim design chief. You can read more by clicking this Autocar article link here.

LUNCHTIME WATCH: FESTIVAL OF THE UNEXCEPTIONAL 2025

Festival of the Unexceptional took place last weekend and we could not attend so are having to live vicariously through other people’s content. This week we recommend two videos to watch.

The first is Steph, from I Drive a Classic channel, who takes us around the show to see what caught her eye. Click here to see that.

The second is Jon Coupland’s video, which you can see by clicking here.

LIST OF THE WEEK: HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE FOTU

Continuing on a theme, the list of the week is a selection of the cars attending the Festival of the Unexceptional 2025, that caught the eye of Sam Phillips of Autocar. Do you agree with the choices? Click here to see what options there are.

AND FINALLY: MODEL MAN

Last week the sad news came that Shunsaku Tamiya had died. He is created with helping to spread the love of finely detailed model cars, amongst other things, across the globe. Whilst now Tamiya are a byword for radio controlled models, they started in a much more humble beginning. Click this Hagerty article link to learn more about the man’s life and how he shaped the company.

FOLLOW UP: UK GOV ANNOUNCES ELECTRIC CAR GRANT

Following months and months of calling on the UK Government to help private registrations with financial aid, the motor industry has got what it wants. Sort of. The Electric Car Grant has been announced that will be up to £3,750 off the price of a new car that is listed at under £37,000 plus other criteria, including how clean the grid is where the car was built. That last point effectively cuts out Chinese EVs due to their CO2 intensive energy supplies.

The grant is active now, with OEMs and dealerships claiming the money back following registration. Added to which, it applies to all buyers and not just private, as was called for. Many within the industry have expressed their disappointment in the scheme, especially how it has ignored the second hand market plus the knock on effect this will have to depreciation. If you wish to learn more, click this Autocar article link here.

To read about the expected impact on Asian built cars, click this EVfleetworld article link here.

FOLLOW UP: RENAULT GROUP APPOINT INTERIM CEO

Duncan Minto has taken over the interim CEO position at Renault Group, following Luca de Meo’s exit. Minto was appointed chief financial officer in March. The search for a new CEO continues. Click this Autocar article link here, to read more.

CHINA THROTTLES BATTERY MATERIAL EXPORTS

China is once again reminding the world who controls almost all of the supply chain when it comes to electric cars. This time they have, due to being now classed as security relevant, implemented an immediate export restriction on battery material preparation technology, ie. stuff that goes into making battery cathodes used in electric cars and energy storage. No reason has been really given for the sudden move. You can find out more by clicking this electrive article link here.

JLR CUTS JOBS AS SALES DROP

JLR has announced it is seeking voluntary redundancies from management positions, following the last quarter’s drop in sales. The company said it expects no more than 500 roles to go. The reason for reduced sales is being mainly put at the feet of the US tariff mess. Click this Autocar article link here to read more.

GEELY BUYS ZEEKER

Geely has acquired the final 37.2% of Zeeker shares, that were listed on the New York Stock Exchange only last year. This will cost the Chinese company around $2.4 billion. Suggestions are this has happened due to the geopolitical outlook and adding them to the group enables greater cost savings thanks to increasing the economy of scale benefits when purchasing parts. You can read more by clicking this electrive article link here.

UK GOVERNMENT OPENS AV TAXI CONSULTATION

The UK Government is asking for our feedback on rolling out autonomous taxi and bus services. They are going to do it, be under no illusion, but we might be able to influence just how that looks, in terms of the information these companies must supply. To read more, click this Autocar article link here.

To go straight to the Government webpage to access the proposed rules and the consultation questions, click this link here.

HISTORIC WELSH SITES GET EV CHARGERS

Evolt has installed electric car chargers at nine historic sites across Wales. This will help to fill in some of the gaps in the public charging infrastructure across the country. If you wish to learn more, click this electrive article link here.

UK GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES EV FLEET INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT

At the same time they were unveiling the Electric Car Grant, the UK Government was also starting the Depot Charging Scheme, where they will pay up to 75% of the costs to set up and install charge points for fleet companies. The scheme will only last until November though, so be quick! You can read more, by clicking this electrive article link here.

STELLANTIS PULLS HYDROGEN PROJECTS

Stellantis has shelved projects that were connected with hydrogen power for light commercial vehicles. Citing a lack of infrastructure and the high costs of hydrogen as reasons behind the move. Hydrogen industry has failed to learn the lessons of what Tesla did to bring so much confidence for EV owners. Click this Autocar article link here to find out more.

MERCEDES TO ALLOW IN-CAR CAMERA USE WHILST DRIVING

Mercedes-Benz is not only adding Microsoft’s Teams to their app store but enabling the use of the in-car camera for calls, on those models that have the facility. Whilst drivers will be able to use the app and have video calls whilst driving, the screen will not show the feeds from other attendees of the call. In a world where there is a mountain of research showing how dangerous hands free calls are, for impairing drivers cognitive ability, this seems utterly insane. If you want to read more, click this link to an article from The Verge.

If you like what we do, on this show, and think it is worth a £1.00, please consider supporting us via Patreon. Here is the link to that CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

NEW NEW CAR NEWS - Chery Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid

The first of two SUVs Chery is bringing to the UK, is the Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid, capable of a claimed maximum range of 745 miles from one full tank and one full charge. Prices and UK specs are yet to be announced, but in the meantime you can read more by clicking this link from Top Gear.

Hyundai Ioniq 9

Hyundai has revealed UK prices and specifications for their flagship car, the Ioniq 9. Based on the same underpinnings as the Kia EV9, this is a large, luxury electric SUV. To find out more, click this Autocar article link here.

Ariel Atom 4RR

To celebrate 25 years of the Atom (how many years?!?) Ariel has taken a Civic Type R engine and made it, well, more, so that this is the most powerful and quickest Atom the company has produced. Click this article link here to read more.

LUNCHTIME WATCH: MONOBOX SPECIAL

Auto Didakt has taken a dive into monoboxes, with the help of the Renault Twingo Mk1 and the Mercedes-Benz A-Class Mk1. Click this YouTube link here to see the excellent video.

LIST OF THE WEEK: 10 OLD CAR FEATURES WE MISS

Antony Ingram and Hagerty supply this week’s list, which is all about features we miss on modern cars. Excellent list, thanks to Antony’s choices and his research. Click here to see more and don’t forget to tell us if you agree with Andrew’s choice.

AND FINALLY: YESTERDAY’S WORLD

We are recommending an old snippet from Tomorrow’s World, in the 1980s, that talks about in-car CD players and how remarkable they actually are when you think about it. Click here to see the YouTube video that takes you back in time.

FOLLOW UP: MORE OEMS INVESTIGATED FOR DEFEAT DEVICES

The Times is reporting that more brands are now being brought into the Department for Transport (DfT) investigation into the use of defeat devices. This is where they pass the emissions testing regime but are set up to a different output when used on the public roads. Now there are 72 models from 27 brands being looked at. Click this article link to read more.

LEVC TO CUT JOBS IN COVENTRY

LEVC is to cut 180 jobs at it’s Coventry facility due to an increasingly difficult business conditions. The site is already running well below capacity, apparently. If you wish to learn more, click this Autocar article link here.

CHERY IS COMING TO THE UK

Chery, the owner of Jaecoo and Omada, is coming to the UK with it’s own vehicles later in the year. They chose to announce this with two vehicles at Goodwood’s Festival of Speed. To read more, click this Motor Trader article link here.

MUNRO TO EXPAND

Munro, the Scottish EV maker who focuses on rugged commercial type vehicles, is planning to expand their operation following the appointment of a new chairman, Avinash Rugoobur. Following a period of testing the company expects to fulfil the order book that currently have. You can find out more, by clicking this EV Powered article link here.

CAR THEFT DATA

The Loop Agency has investigated car theft data and decided to present it as number sold divided by the number stolen. This then gives a different perspective on the DVLA’s information, penalising smaller selling vehicles. If you want to read more, click this Autocar article link here.

FRANCE TRIAL IN-ROAD CHARGING SYSTEM

On a short section of the A10 near Paris, in-road electric vehicle charging infrastructure is being installed ahead of a trial due to begin in September for charging your EV as you drive, via inductive charging. To find out more, click this EV Powered article link here.

FRAUD CHARGES FOR RUNAWAY CAR DRIVER

In March 2024 the driver of a Jaguar I-Pace called the police to claim his car could not decelerate, this led to an incident that covered the M58, M57 and M62 in Lancashire and Merseyside. After being brought to a stop the police and JLR forensically investigated the car, which has resulted with the individual being charged with two counts of fraud, causing a public nuisance and dangerous driving. Click this EV Powered article for more.

If you like what we do, on this show, and think it is worth a £1.00, please consider supporting us via Patreon. Here is the link to that CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

NEW NEW CAR NEWS - Fiat 500 Hybrid

After 17 years, the Fiat 500 petrol platform is being retired as a new mild hybrid version will be sold, based on the 500e underpinnings. Further updates will occur to the exterior, to enable cooling to the engine and the interior. Click this Autocar article to find out more.

Aston Martin Vantage S

Aston Martin bring back the S model, for the Vantage. Along with the badge comes oodles of power and tweaks to the chassis and suspension set up to enable drivers to take advantage of the upgrade to the engine. Click this Autocar article link here, to read more.

Bentley EX 15 Concept

Bentley has revealed the EX 15, a raised up two-door coupe that is apparently an urban SUV. The company says it is a hint at the direction future models will go, in terms of looks. Click this Autocar article link here to see more.

LUNCHTIME WATCH: GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED HIGHLIGHTS

We have compiled the list below, of the Goodwood Festival of Speed highlights, they’ve published on their YouTube channel. This should cover your lunches for a week!

Click here for Thursday’s highlights.

Click here for Friday’s highlights.

Click here for Saturday’s highlights.

Click here for Sunday’s highlights.

Click here for Sunday’s Rally Stage livestream.

Click here for the Hillclimb Shoot Out final.

LIST OF THE WEEK: THE FINEST MID-ENGINED MARVELS

Autocar has come up with a huge and cracking list of mid-engined cars for you to check out. Agree with Alan and Andrew? Click here to see what options you have.

AND FINALLY: WHEEL OF FORTUNE

Hagerty provide a short list of classic wheels, which is too short to be a List of the Week, but is equally too good to not share with you. Click here to read more and take a trip down memory lane.

JUNE 2025 NEW CAR REGISTRATION FIGURES

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has published the registration figures for new cars, that took place in June 2025. There is good news, as overall numbers rose, year-on-year. Not only that, but BEVs had a market share of 24.8% as uptake continues. To read more, click this article link from SMMT.

MCLAREN CONTINUES TO CHANGE LEADERSHIP TEAM

McLaren has appointed for Ferrari CEO, Luca Cordero Di Montezemolo, as a director. Presumably he is bringing a wealth of knowledge on how to run a successful performance car brand. If you want to find out more, click this EVO article link here.

GEELY IS COMING TO THE UK

Geely will be launching their own cars in the UK, starting with the EX5 a mid sized SUV. Sales are expected to begin towards the end of 2025. You can read more, by clicking this MotorTrader article link here.

RENAULT HIT BY NISSAN STAKE

Renault Group has reported a €9.5bn loss on their stake in Nissan. This is due to a combination of them reducing their share of the Japanese company and Nissan’s share price dropping by nearly 40% over the last year. Click this Financial Times article link to read more.

FERRARI LOSE TRADEMARK CASE

Ferrari claimed that an energy drink logo would cause confusion with consumers as they think they’ll be buying a Ferrari energy drink, thanks to the use of prancing horses. A Malaysian High Court has thrown the case out, however. The “Wee Power” logo can continue to be two prancing horse over a ‘W’. Click this link, from Free Malaysia Today, to read more.

If you like what we do, on this show, and think it is worth a £1.00, please consider supporting us via Patreon. Here is the link to that CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

NEW NEW CAR NEWS - Kia EV4

Kia has revealed details about the EV4, which is due for sale in the UK in the autumn of 2025. Priced from £34,695, having a 58.3kWh battery pack that gives a max range of 273 miles as a hatch. There will be a saloon option too. For £37,695, you get a 81.4kWh battery pack that has a max range of 388 miles. Click this Autocar article link, to read more.

Kia Sportage

Kia are updating their most popular model, the Sportage. Externally the looks will now be in line with other refreshed models. Click this Autocar article link here, to find out more including prices.

Stellantis recall

Stellantis has issued a recall on their 1.5 BlueHDi diesel engine, built between 2017 and 2023, due to potential camshaft chain issues. Click this Bermuda Broadcast News article link for more.

LUNCHTIME READ: COMO CAR WEEK

Hagerty attended the Como Car Week, and we’re not jealous at all, no, nope, not us. Anyway, they have a great article explaining what went on that is accompanied by some fabulous pictures. Click this link here to see more.

LIST OF THE WEEK: TREASURES OF THE TOYOTA MUSEUM

Autocar has a great slideshow for this week’s list, as they take us inside the Toyota museum. Slightly unexpectedly, it is not all about Toyotas, there are plenty of cars from other brands to see too. Do you agree with Alan’s choice? Click this link to check out your options.

AND FINALLY: TV’S PAUL COWLAND’S OWN CAR COLLECTION PT 1

TV’s Paul Cowland has released the first of three videos where he explores his own eclectic car collection. Click this YouTube link here to see more and do enjoy!

UK CAR PRODUCTION DROPS AGAIN

UK car production dropped the lowest since 1949, bar the lockdown year of 2020. That is the second record breaking (and not the good type) month on the trot. The US tariff jump is being largely blamed for this. To read more, click this Autocar article link here.

NISSAN CONFIRMS UK JOB CUTS

Nissan has announced that around 250 employees are taking voluntary redundancy in Sunderland, as the car company looks to cut costs. This is all part of the dramatic steps the Japanese company is actioning due to their financial woes. If you wish to read more, click this Top Gear article link here.

Adding to the bleak picture Nissan is painting, leaked documents show the company approaching suppliers to request a delay in paying them. The reasoning is claimed to be a freeing up of cash. The request is voluntary, but would be two to three months delay for invoices being paid. You can read more, by clicking this Reuters article link here.

LOTUS MAY OR MAY NOT CLOSE UK PRODUCTION

Late last week Autocar was told that Lotus was planning to move production, from the UK, as it explored the possibility of building cars in the US thanks to the tariffs. However, on Monday, the company issued a statement refuting the possibility of shutting down the Hethel factory. The UK Government has pledged to discuss the matter with Lotus to safeguard British jobs. Click this Autocar link here to read more.

CAR MAKERS GO COLD ON APPLE CARPLAY ULTRA

Some of the companies that had agreed to work with Apple and integrate Apple CarPlay Ultra into their vehicles, are now stepping back from those commitments. Regular CarPlay will still be available but allowing access to data that enables the display on the driver's binnacle was too much for them. To learn more, click this MacRumours article link here.

GM CLASS ACTION TO BE SPLIT UP

General Motors won a ruling that will cause the class action against them, regarding defective transmissions, is to be split up into smaller cases due to the wide variety of vehicles involved. The case is not going away and it is only a reprieve as this will be sent back to the regional judge to decide which owners will be clumped together. If you want to read more, click this Reuters article link here.

INTEL RETREATS FROM THE AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR

Intel is closing down its automotive business and laying off the majority of people who worked on it. Intel is having to restructure due to business competition and struggles. Click this article link here, from The Register to read more.

If you like what we do, on this show, and think it is worth a £1.00, please consider supporting us via Patreon. Here is the link to that CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

NEW NEW CAR NEWS - Mercedes-AMG Concept GT XX

Mercedes-AMG has revealed an electric performance car they are promising will stir our emotions. There will be a simulated sound of a V8 as well as pretend gear changes. To read more about this, click the link here to an Autocar article.

Porsche 911 Carrera Reimagined by Singer

Much to Alan’s “joy”, Singer has shown off their latest restomod of a Porsche 964. Prices are on the “oh, how much?” end of the scale and have utilised help from Red Bull Advanced Technologies and Cosworth. For more on this, click this EVO article link here.

Cadillac CELESTIQ

Cadillac has delivered its first CELESTIQ. This is a hand made electric luxury car, aiming at the Bentley and Rolls Royce markets. Prices start at just over $300,000 and can be personalised in a myriad of ways.Click this GM News article link for more.

LUNCHTIME READ: THREE IS A MAGIC NUMBER

Driven to Write provides our recommendation, for your reading pleasure this week. Eóin Doyle tells us all about BMW and their first 3-Series. As ever, a wonderful history lesson into a car that has been so important to the company. Click this link here to read all about it.

LIST OF THE WEEK: 25 OF RENAULT’S GREATEST PERFORMANCE HITS

We turn, once again, to Autocar as they provide a slideshow of performance Renaults. Don’t forget to tell us if you agree with Alan and Andrew’s choice. Click this link here to check out the options.

AND FINALLY: TAKE YOUR HOTEL WITH YOU

Fancy going off on a big adventure, into areas of the world that are a touch more inaccessible than you usually visit, but also want to take around 20 of your closest mates? No problem, Rotel Tours can help you! We link you to an article from The Autopian, that explains the history of Rotel Tours and the various vehicles they have used, including their latest which is are six wheeled Mercedes Actross based expedition vehicles. Click here to read more.

FOLLOW UP: US UK TRADE DEAL IS ACTUALLY REAL

Following our confusion, last week, on what had actually been signed, it appears that the US and UK have indeed signed an actual, real trade deal. This means that for up to 100,000 cars exported to the US, there will only be an additional 10% tariff added, instead of 25%. Click this Autocar article link here, to read more.

NO RETURN TO 30MPH LIMIT IN DENBIGHSHIRE

One county in Wales has canvassed local residents to see if any of the roads that have been changed from 30 to 20mph limit, should be changed back to the original speed. Only people outside of specific areas, travelling through, have asked for a return to the higher speed and have not been considered. As a result, no roads are going back. You can read more, by clicking this BBC News article link here.

DEALER TO PAY FOR INFOTAINMENT REPLACEMENT SHOCK

A ruling by the Motor Ombudsman has stated that a dealer must pay for the full replacement costs of a broken infotainment system as it was deemed unsatisfactory quality. This was all under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. The shock is that the dealer is being held responsible and not the manufacturer, however, the contract is with the dealer and customer, not the customer and manufacturer. If you want to learn more, click this lawgistics article link, here.

NEW STELLANTIS PARTS DISTRIBUTION HUB IN THE UK

Ellesmere Port is the location of the new Stellantis parts distribution hub, which has just opened. This site will feed 19 regional parts hubs across the country and Ireland. To find out more, click this Autocar article link here.

AMAZON AND STELLANTIS SOFTWARE COLLABORATION ENDS

Stellantis and Amazon have shelved the software collaboration that was first announced in January 2022 and meant to be behind the SmartCockpit system. If you wish to learn more, click this Yahoo Finance article link here.

OLD NISSAN LEAF BATTERIES GET SECOND LIFE IN ROME

Rome Airport is using old Nissan Leaf batteries as part of a system that reduces the pull on the electrical energy network, making them more self contained. Nissan predicts the batteries will have a life of at least seven years. Click this EV Powered article to learn more.

If you like what we do, on this show, and think it is worth a £1.00, please consider supporting us via Patreon. Here is the link to that CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

NEW NEW CAR NEWS - VW Golf GTI Edition 50

Volkswagen are getting ahead of the game, with announcing how they will celebrate the Golf GTI’s 50th anniversary. There will be a special edition, with 321bhp, giving a 0-62mph of 5.5 seconds an a limited top speed of 168mph. There is also some fettling to the chassis and suspension set ups to help deliver improved driving dynamics. Prices are expected to start around £45,000. Click this Autocar article link, to read more.

Caterham 310 Encore

Caterham is saying goodbye to the Ford 1.6 litre engine via a 25 vehicle special run of the 310, called the Encore. There are a number of improvements to the oily bits which allow the car to get to 62mph in just 4.9 seconds and a top speed of 127mph. Additionally there are funky colour and livery options that will mean you not miss them. Click this EVO article link to read more.

Toyota Land Cruiser Commercial

Toyota are brining a commercial version of the Land Cruiser which will mean no back seats and acres of room, plus a mighty towing capacity. You will be able to order one from 1 August 2025 and deliveries begin in September. Prices start at £52,729.17. You can find out more, by clicking this article link from The Mud Life.

Citroën DS3 and C3 stop driving order

Citroën has issues a ‘stop driving immediately’ order to owners of Mk1 DS3 and Mk2 C3 owners, for cars built between 2009 - 2019, due to potential risk from a Takata airbag misfiring, following a fatality in France. This is connected with the recall issued in December 2024 for the same issue. To read more, click this Autocar article link here.

LUNCHTIME READ: WELCOME TO PANDELLERIA

Thanks to Jim Magill for posting about the island of Pantelleria, which has the highest density of Fiat Pandas. Sitting in the Mediterranean Sea, between Tunisia and Sicily, the locals have adopted the Panda as the car to do all the things. Click this YouTube link to a Fiat video that shows you more about this marvellous place.

LIST OF THE WEEK: 19 INTERESTING FRENCH LUXURY BARGES

Autocar has provided a list of potential luxury French cars for you to select your favourite from. And this will be a tough choice. Agree with Alan and Andrew? Let us know. Click here to see the options.

AND FINALLY: SECRET STASH

We return to the topic of Porsche’s secret stash of cars, which thanks to our seeming obsession, is less secret! We are suggesting you try the following two links as Tom Ford walks around the facility discussing the various cars for Top Gear.

Click this link here, for the concept cars and prototypes.

For the road going cars, click this link here.