Motoring Podcast - News Show

FOLLOW UP: FRANCE ISSUES ARREST WARRANT FOR GHOSNAuthorities in France have issued an international arrest warrant for Carlos Ghosn, in connection with £12.6 million payments made to Suhail Bahwan Automobiles, in Oman. The claim is money was funnelled illegally to the company which Ghosn took advantage of to use personally. There are another four other individuals also implicated. To learn more, in yet another twist of this tale, click here for the Autocar article. UK GOVERNEMENT MAKES AMENDMENTS TO HIGHWAY CODEThe Government has announced changes to the Highway Code, readying it for when we have self driving technology on the public roads. For cars that are classified, by the Minister for Transport, as self driving and in that mode, we will be able to have our “eyes-off” the road. Currently there are no vehicles on the Minister’s list. To read an accurate report on all this, click The Register’s link here. To read the Government’s own release, click here. For The Register’s article on AI and ML, click here.R

HYUNDAI IONIQ5 WORLD CAR OF THE YEARHyundai has scooped the top prize of the World Car of the Year awards. Added to which it won the World Electric Car of the Year and World Car Design of the Year too. They were up against the Ford Mustang Mach-E and the Kia EV6. To run through the full list of winners, for all the categories, click here to read the World Car Awards articles and further links. For Autocar’s article, click here. NCAP SCORES DACIA JOGGER ONE STAREuro NCAP revealed their latest round of testing. One car stood out and not for a good reason, the Dacia Jogger, as it was awarded one star. Upon further investigation, a few things came to light which has caused many to start questioning how NCAP goes about things. To see the Jogger’s score, click here for the NCAP link. To see some of Dacia’s response to this, click here for the Autocar article. This has cause a lot of debate, around the tests, what is included, what will gain scores and by some if NCAP is fit for purpose. One article that delves int

UK GOVERNMENT TO MANDATE SWITCH TO EVSThe UK Government has revealed that it will mandate the transition from ICE to zero emission vehicles. This will start at 22% from 2024 moving up to the full 100% in 2035. The car industry urged caution on this move. To read more, click the Move Electric article here. Additionally, manufacturers have pressed the Government to define what a hybrid is, during the final phase of transitioning to full zero emission vehicles of 2030 to 2035. For more on this story, click here for the Autocar link.PORSCHE INVESTS IN SYNTHETIC FUEL MAKERFurther to the existing support to the e-fuel manufacturing facility in Chile, Porsche is taking a 12.5% stake in the company leading this development, HIF. This will cost the company around $75 million but are not alone in their investment, with a total of around $100 million being raised. More can be found by clicking here, for the Autocar story. GRIDSERVE HAS REPLACED ALL MOTORWAY ECOTRICITY CHARGERSEcotricity was the former name of now Elect

FOLLOW UP: SSANGYONG SEEKS NEW OWNER AS DEAL FALLS THROUGHSsangyong has started the search for a new owner after the consortium headed by Edison Motors failed to meet a payment deadline. This money was supposed to be made to 95% of creditors and was a condition of the approval of South Korea’s bankruptcy court. For more on this story, click the Autocar article link here. MARCH 2022 NEW CAR REGISTRATION FIGURESThe Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has published the March new car registration figures. As was to be expected, the figures are down, in fact the worst since 1998, thanks mainly to semi conductor shortages. However, battery electric vehicles had their best ever month, with 39,315 registered. To learn more about the month, click the SMMT link here. To get some more insight into what the figures mean, click here for Auto Retail Network’s Tristan Young’s thread on Twitter. THOMAS MULLER IS THE NEW JLR ENGINEERING CHIEFThomas Muller, who is moving from VW, will take up the reigns of execut

Andrew tested out the Volkswagen Arteon Shooting Brake, for a week. Listen in to him explain his time with VW’s take on the lifestyle estate car. What he thinks of the looks, how he got on with the technology and was the PHEV-ness well done? Once again, he keeps us all in suspense as to exactly what he thinks until right to the end.

NEW PHONE LAWS COME INTO EFFECTNew laws, about the use of mobile phones whilst driving, have come into effect. Effectively, it has become illegal to hold and use your phone except when using it for a contactless payment. Using the phone whilst in a cradle is still permitted in some circumstances, such as the sat nav app. For more on this, click here for the Autocar article. GOVERNMENT AIMS FOR WORLD BEST CHARGING NETWORKTransport Minister, Trudy Harrison MP, announced at an SMMT event, that the Government is aiming for the UK to have one of the best EV charging networks in the world. This will be quite a feat as the announced ‘new’ policies and ideas were not binding in anyway, nor was there any new money being made available. To learn more, click the Move Electric article link here. The Government also announced, this week, they are opening up a consultation on accessibility, for disabled people, at public charging points. More can be found here, on that story. RENAULT HALTS ACTIVITY IN RUSSIAFollowing a bac

ELECTRIC VAN AND LORRY GRANT EXTENDEDThe Government has extended their grant scheme for electric vans and lorries, for two more years. Those looking to buy a qualifying vehicle can claim between £5000 and £16000. For more on this, click the MoveElectric article here. INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY LISTS OIL REDUCTION STEPSThe International Energy Agency (IEA) has outlined ten steps we could take to reduce the amount of oil we need to use. If the ideas were adopted across the globe, the IEA predicts that an amount of oil equivalent to half of Russia’s exports could be saved. To find out more, click here for The Guardian article. VOLKSWAGEN ANNOUNCED PROFITS JUMPVW’s operating profits rose, over 2020, 451% on 2020, which to a certain degree is understandable. Whilst their sales revenue and returns on sale rose very slightly they actually sold 8% fewer vehicles. This is another example of companies targeting their higher profile specs and vehicles. For more on this story, click the Autocar article link here. AUDI G

Andrew had a Hyundai IONIQ5 on test, for a week. What does the family man make of the multi award winning car from Korea? Listen to him tell Alan about it, the looks, the tech, the tasks that are easier to be actioned via voice control and orientation of volume control icons. Andrew keeps us all in suspense as to his overall verdict until right to the end!

FOLLOW UP: EXPANSION OF LONDON ULEZ ANNOUNCEDFollowing weeks of rumours Sadiq Khan has announced his plans for cutting congestion and improving air quality, by increasing the ULEZ to cover all of London, which appears to deal with only one part of the problem. To learn more about this story, click here for the YesAuto article. FOLLOW UP: SONY HONDA JV EXPLAINEDNick Gibbs, in this linked Autocar article, goes into more detail of what the Honda Sony joint venture probably means. Click the link above to better understand what it means and why it might just work. FORD ANNOUNCES 7 NEW EVS BY 2024Ford has announced that it will launch seven new EVs by 2024, comprising of three passenger cars and four light commercial vehicles. Ford has previously promised to be EV only for passenger cars by 2030. By teaming up with VW and using their MEB platform Ford says it will be able to fulfil this push. For more on the story, click the MoveElectric article here. BMW BUYS ALPINABMW has bought the rights to Alpina, who undertak

FOLLOW UP: GREG KELLY GIVEN SUSPENDED SENTENCEGreg Kelly, the former Nissan executive who was tricked into flying to Japan, has been found guilty on one of the charges brought against him. His sentence was suspended and he has flown back to the U.S. AS the Asian Times article, linked here, points out the ruling is “flawed”. FOLLOW UP: FELICITY ACE SINKS WITH VW GROUP CARS ONBOARDThe Felicity Ace, with it’s cargo of VW Group cars, has sunk following the fire onboard. This follows work for a couple of weeks to rescue the ship following the removal of the crew. To find out more, click this Autocar link here. NEW CAR REGISTRATION FIGURES FEBRUARY 2022The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has released the February 2022 data on new car registrations. The figures are up on the pandemic market but still 25% below the before times. Electric, as well as hybrid and plug-in hybrid registrations rose dramatically. For more on this, click the SMMT article here. CAR INDUSTRY EFFECTED BY INVASION OF UKRAINE

KIA WINS CAR OF THE YEAR AWARDThe KIA EV6 has won the prestigious Car of the Year award, which was announced in Geneva but not whilst the motor show was on due to changes with the event. The EV6 is the first KIA to win and it fought off the Renault MeganeE-Tech Electric and the Hyundai IONIQ third. For more on this story, click the Autocar article here. STELLANTIS EXCEEDS FINANCIAL EXPECTATIONSStellantis announced their financial results, for 2021, which exceeded expectations. Their nett profit, operating income and nett revenues far outpaced 2020, which is to be hoped and expected. All of which makes the announcement that they expect their suppliers to shoulder a bigger slice of the costs for EV tech rather hard to swallow. To read about this, click here for the Autocar article. ASTON MARTIN NARROWS LOSSESIn 2020 Aston Martin loses were £466 million, during 2021 they reduced that figure to £213.8 million. Added to which their revenue was up 79% to £1.1 billion. Aston is hopeful they will deliver between 75 a

Andrew had a Volvo XC40 Recharge, with the twin motors, on loan for a week. How did he get on? You’ll have to listen to find out. Additionally, you get in-depth discussions on curry hooks and good fonts for driver display information. You cannot say we do not know how to treat you!

SHIP CARRYING VW GROUP CARS ABLAZEA ship carrying cars from Volkswagen Group companies, is on fire in the Atlantic Ocean. Conflicting reports state where the fire originated but that this has spread to the rest of the ship, including the cargo. Whilst Porsche has confirmed some of it’s vehicles were on board, it is not clear what other cars are involved. For more information, click the Autocar article here. RENAULT BACK IN PROFITSAfter two tough years and burying the hatchet with Nissan, Renault has returned to profit in 2021. In doing so it has achieved some longer term aims well ahead of schedule. Renault do make it clear that the semiconductor crisis is and will continue to hit business in 2022. To learn more, click here for the Autocar article. NEW FLOATING LOTUSLotus has announced it is going to float the company, which got us all excited that there would be another car/boat model but then quickly dashed on what it actually meant. The plan is to put the EV division on the stock exchange, which they are h

FOLLOW UP: MANCHESTER CAZ “PAUSED’Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, has announced that the Government has agreed on a delay for the region hitting clean air requirements, until 2026. Burnham has argued that due to the pandemic there is a problem in sourcing the zero emission vehicles needed by commercial and private hire companies. To read more, click the YesAuto article here. FUEL PRICES CONTINUE TO RISEA new record average price was hit over the weekend for both petrol and diesel, at £148.02 and £151.57 respectively. Crude oil nearly at $100 per barrel the retailers are quick, as ever, to pass that straight onto drivers. For more depressing information about this story, click here for the Autocar article. NEW ELECTRICITY RULES TO PREVENT STRAIN ON NETWORKThe Government is introducing new rules, which includes residential EV charging points, that must be able to prioritise charging when demand is lowest or renewable energy production is high. Included in the changes is the need for security and provisi

FOLLOW UP: PRIVATE PARKING FINES CAPPEDPrivate parking fines and the rules surrpounding them are to be tightened up. Read the BBC story here.JLR REVENUE BOOST IN Q3 2021JLR’s revenue has ramped up in the third quarter of 2021, and they also have a new EV platform on the way.ROAD PRICING COULD BE EN ROUTEA story from Evo magazine says that GPS-based road pricing could be here by 2024.BORTISHVOLT AND GLENCORE TO OPEN RECYCLING PLANTBritishvolt and Glencore are to work together to open a new EV battery recycling plant in Kent according to Autocar.TREASURY URGED TO RECONSIDER UNFAIR TAXAccording the YesAuto, the UK Treasury is being urged to address the discrepancy in VAT between home EV charging and public EV charging.BP ACQUIRES 30% OF OIL COMPANYBP has acquired a stake in a UK producer of hydrogenated vegetable oil that be used of biofuels. More in the Autocar story here.UK GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS DECIDING WHAT IT MAY DO ABOUT e-SCOOTERSThe UK Government is considering introducing a new vehicle class for e-scoote

GREY IS THE MOST POPULAR COLOURGrey is the most popular colour chosen by British new car buyers for the 4th year in a row. You can read the release from the SMMT here and analysis from Autocar here.COUNCILS COULD ENFORCE MOVING TRAFFIC OFFENCES FROM JUNECouncils in England and Wales could be able to follow the examples of London and Cardiff and enforce some traffic offenses from June. They will have some hoops to jump through though. You have read more here.STREETLIGHTS TO GAIN MORE TECHSome streetlights could gain additional tech to help aid car to car communication as part of their scheduled refurbishment. More information about this here.CALLS FOR AUTONOMOUS CAR USERS TO BE USERS, NOT DRIVERSA report on legal changes required to enable autonomous vehicles in the future has called for four significant law changes. You can read more in the BBC article here.ALLIANCE OUTLINE LATEST EV PLANRenalut-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance has outlined its plans for 35 new EVson 5 platforms across the next few years, but we wo

Alan had Volkswagen’s most important new car since the Golf for a week. Is the ID.3 People’s Car 2.0 or does its hurried gestation in the light of Dieselgate shine through?

FOLLOW UP: MYTHS ABOUT HIGHWAY CODE CHANGESLast week the chaps had an article on the changes to the Highway Code as the Lunchtime Read as they are significant and we all need to understand them. Apparently some did not listen to us, with reports from mainstream media outlets not correctly explaining the issues. In case you didn’t read last week’s recommendation then click this article from The Guardian, so you are well informed. FOLLOW UP: MORE DETAIL ON POSSIBLE LONDON ROAD TRAVEL CHANGESAs Andrew and Alan stated during the article, as they were confused with the change in price, they have found some more detail which helps to explain the possible new rules better. Click here for the Move Electric article. POLICING LEVELS BLAMED FOR STATIC ROAD DEATH FIGURESBetween 2010 and 2019 the level of road deaths, on British roads, has remained stable, after three decades of reduction. The main blame for this is the level of visible police on our roads. Added to this, Panorama found that roughly 50% of static speed ca

TOKYO AUTO SALONAlan and Andrew are rounding up the highlights from the Tokyo Auto Salon 2022, a tuner focused show that is worth paying attention to because a lot of ideas and themes get explored at their most undiluted form, by manufacturers experimenting and trying to wow audiences. PERFORMANCE CAR HIGHLIGHTSThere is a huge performance car contingent to the show, with the following highlights discussed. Toyota GR GT3 ConceptToyota GRMN YarisToyota bZ4X GR SportSubaru Solterra STiSubaru E-RA ConceptNissan Fairlady ZHonda Civic TypeR ConceptKEI CAR CONCEPTSKei cars are the small vehicles that are tightly regulated to take up minimal space and run with very small engines, that Japan is famous for. Some of the highlights include the following;Daihatsu Atari Camper ConceptHonda N WGN Picnic ConceptHonda K Climb ConceptMitsubishi K EV Concept X-StyleJACK IT UP AND SHOVE IT ON KNOBBLIESMuch of the show was either slammed to the ground as though suspensions had just given up or jacked up and shoved on knobblies. W

SMART MOTORWAYS HALTED BY GOVERNMENTThe roll out of new smart motorways will be halted for five years, as the Government wants to use that time to collate more data on the safety of the existing sections. Those schemes that are already being built will continue, however. In the meantime, £900 million has been pledged to improving the safety of existing smart motorways. For more on this story, click the Autocar article here. FUEL DUTY LOSS ESTIMATED AT £5 BILLION THANKS TO EVSThe RAC Foundation has estimated that the Government could lose £5 billion in revenue from fuel duty, with the rise in EV adoption, by 2030. This brings up the thorny problem of how will that be recouped, especially as car owners already feel they are over burdened with costs. To learn more, click here for the YesAuto link. LONDON MAYOR CONSIDERING A DAILY CAR CHARGESadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has commissioned a City Hall report into achieving the net zero target for London of 2030. One of the recommendations is for a daily charge of