There are more electric cars than you realise

Last updated 09-Nov-2010 09:13 | Posted by Gary Shapland

The future of motoring is taking a mass driving test. No fewer than 60 eco-friendly vehicles at the cutting edge of low-energy technology took to the roads for the first-ever RAC Brighton to London Future Car Challenge.

The number and variety of vehicles that took part included entries from leading manufacturers as well as pioneering designers, has far exceeded expectations.

It can claim to be perhaps the largest event of its kind and is a very public showcase for low-energy-impact vehicles. Open to the latest electric, hybrid and low-emission passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, awards were presented for vehicles judged to have made the least energy impact in their category during the 60-mile Brighton to London run.

It is a first for Britain and took place the day before the Royal Automobile Club's world-famous London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. Starting at Madeira Drive in the Sussex resort, this unique event will use the traditional 60-mile veteran car run route in reverse.

The formal finish was in Pall Mall, followed by a special ceremonial presentation in Regent Street. Here, the vehicles joined the display of more than 100 pre-1905 motor cars in the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run International Concourse in front of an estimated 250,000 audience. History was in the making here, with a number of world or UK debuts as manufacturers and designers use the event to showcase their pre-production electric, plug-in hybrid, hydrogen and low- emission internal combustion engine vehicles.

The industry is taking this inaugural event very seriously - leading manufacturers taking part include BMW, Ford, Honda, Mini, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Renault, Skoda, Smart, Tata, Toyota, Vauxhall and Volkswagen. In some cases, several different models have been entered.

Among the innovations to look out for is Vauxhall's Ampera. This is an electric car fitted with a small "range extender" petrol engine - unlike a hybrid vehicle, it doesn't drive the car directly but tops up the batteries on the move to extend the vehicle's range to a claimed 350 miles.

Meanwhile, the world's first pure electric 4x4 vehicle, the Liberty E-Range Range Rover by UK-based Liberty Electric Cars, has a battery range of around 200 miles and is claimed to cover 0-60mph in about seven seconds.

To make a real impact on cutting emissions, the commercial vehicle sector is crucial - and competition is hotting up. Ford has entered its Transit Connect Electric. UK companies, Nicholson McLaren, Interserve and RLE International, have entered their all-electric conversions of the Citroën Nemo van and Volkswagen Caddy Maxi. Zytek Automotive will display its all- electric Mercedes-Benz Vito Taxi.

Sports cars, not generally known for low fuel consumption, will cause a stir with entries from Tesla, well known for its high- performance vehicles, plus privately entered Lotus Elise and MG-F, both recently converted to electric drive.

Excitement ran high with the unveiling of Formula One's contribution to the development of the low-energy car of the future. After 17 years designing Brabham F1 cars and then 18 years designing the McLaren Group's F1 and high-performance road cars, Professor Gordon Murray set up his own company, Gordon Murray Design Ltd, in Shalford, Surrey. For the event, Prof Murray himself drove his company's T.25 three-seater city car, which uses F1 technology.

Adrian Tink, RAC motoring strategist, says: "We're extremely pleased with the quantity and, importantly, the quality of the entries. As well as major manufacturers and specialist companies, private owners will also take part - something that we very much encourage.

"We're confident this was the largest, most public showcase for low-energy vehicles that has ever taken place in Europe."

The RAC Future Car Challenge could prove to be as historic as the pioneering Emancipation Run of November 1896, which the annual RAC London to Brighton Veteran Car Run has commemorated since 1930.

This demonstrated the capabilities of the recently invented horseless carriage.

Then, as now, different technologies competed for dominance. Once again the 60 miles between Brighton and London will point to the future.

 

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Skoda´s new Fabia VRS is here

Last updated 05-Nov-2010 14:44 | Posted by Matt

 

Skoda's Fabia VRS became a cult classic in it's previous encarnation, blending economy and good performance with the 1.9 turbo diesel engine, and they hope to continue the cars success with the new version.

Gone now is the diesel engine, replaced by the techology packed 1.4 TSI petrol engine. Fitted with both a turbo charger and a super charger this little engine produces 180 BHP and 184lb or torque which enables this car to reach 62 mph in 7.3 seconds and a top speed of 139 mph, whichs returning an impressive 45.6 mpg and a low CO2 figure of 148g/km.

 

The other big change this time around is the gearbox. Out is the previous manual transmission and in is the fantastic new generation 7 speed DSG gearbox, complete with it's paddle shift on the steering wheel. The DSG gearbox has received huge acclaim since it's launch a few years ago, and is now available in all VW, Audi and Seat models as well as the Skoda range, and is now beicoming more common in the smaller hot hatch market. The same combination of TSI engine and DSG box can now be found in the Seat Ibiza and VW Polo, but with the Seat being some £1200 dearer and the VW another £2000 more than that the Skoda represents true value for money.

The car is available to order today, and better still there are other colours to choose from! Call GMC Leasing today for a competitive business contract hire or personal contract hire or PCP quote.

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2011 Budget Date Announced

Last updated 05-Nov-2010 11:28 | Posted by Adam Kenney

The date for the 2011 Budget has been announced. It will take place on Wednesday March 23, 2011.

The Treasury confirmed that the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne will make his second Budget speech to the House of Commons on March 23 2011.

Earlier this year the Government confirmed it was scrapping the Pre-Budget Report, which traditionally took place in November.

For fleets and company car drivers this means they must wait until March to find out the Government's plans for benefit-in-kind and corporation tax.

 

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Toyota Celebrate 10 years of the Prius

Last updated 29-Oct-2010 08:39 | Posted by Matt

 

Believe it or not the Toyota Prius has now reached it's 10th birthday, and to celebrate this milestone Toyota are releasing a special edition of the petrol / electric hybrid.

Labelled the 10th Anniversary this variant of the car will be the most exclusive yet with just 1000 being built. Additions to the special edition model include 17" smoked finish alloys, a body kit and rear dark tinted privacy glass. Inside there is a special Black leather trim finished with a 10th anniversary logo, which the rest of the spec is based on the regular top spec  T Spirit model which includes HDD sat nav with integrated sound library, rear parking monitor, Bluetooth, cruise control, smart entry and start, rain sensing wipers, head up display and Intelligent Park Assist.

No power or performance increase has been carried out, so the car retains the regular line up's impressive fuel economy and low tax banding, with 70.6 MPG on a combined cycle and a CO2 rating of just 92g/km being achieved.

Available in White or Black the car is on sale now and the first cars are expected to reach customers this winter.

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Mazda Targets 30% Fuel Consumption Reduction For 2015

Last updated 22-Oct-2010 08:19 | Posted by Adam Kenney

Mazda has recently announced details on its next-generation powertrain technologies; "SKYACTIV".

To be launched in 2011, these include new engines, transmissions, bodyshells and platforms that will offer major reductions in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions for all Mazda models.

Initially Mazda will concentrate on lightweight construction, along with improving conventional powertrain technologies. In further phases, efficiency improving technologies, such as regenerative brake systems and hybrid power systems, will be introduced.

Mazda's goal is a 30% reduction on the fuel consumption of its global fleet by 2015.

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