Ford are currently trialing technology in the UK to reduce time spent sitting at a red light. Information on traffic light timings from a roadside unit display is used by the technology called Green Light Optimal Speed Advisory to advise the driver of the best speed to travel to arrive at a green light. Over the next two years, trials will take place in Milton Keynes and Coventry on both public roads and closed circuits. The technology is being trialed by Ford to help show the benefits on connected car for UK Autodrive – a publicly funded £20 million project and the nation’s largest self-driving and connected car trial. The aim of the project is to develop vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure technologies which will lead to a much less stressful and time-consuming driving experience, as well as improving fuel efficiency. As a nation we can…

It has been announced by Mini that they will be manufacturing an all new plug-in hybrid in the form of a Countryman SUV. The next generation Countryman is set to arrive within the next couple of weeks, we are yet to know the details of the powertrain itself, however if it is anything like the BMW 225xe, it will involve the Mini Cooper’s 1.5 litre three-cylinder petrol engine powering the front axle, and the electric motor taking care of the rear. In the 225xe, it leads to a headline figure of 141mpg, with around 50-60mpg more likely in real life. Mini promises plenty of electric-only usability, too, with the motor able to power the car right up to 78mph. Though we imagine battery life won’t be huge if you do so. Mini’s Sebastian Mackensen says ‘In a hybrid Mini model. driving electrically must also…

The Citroën C1 has been crowned the most reliable new car of 2014 in the Which? Car Survey The supermini achieved a 99.3% reliability rating for the first three years in a survey of more than 49,000 car owners and 58,055 cars. The joint top performing manufacturers were BMW and Toyota who both  came top in two of the eight car classes: BMW with the 3 Series Touring (Estate Cars) and 3 Series Coupé (Sports Cars); Toyota with the Auris (Medium Cars) and Verso (MPVs). Six of our eight highest-scoring new car models had no reported breakdowns last year. The least reliable car in the survey was the Hyundai iX20 diesel with a reliability score of 75.2%. Which Car? Most Reliable New Cars by Class Superminis: Citroën C1 (petrol, 2005-2014) 99.3% Medium cars: Toyota Auris (2012-) 98.8% Large cars: Skoda Octavia (2013-) 98.7% Luxury…

UK car production rose 3.5% to 791,314 units in the first half of 2014. June output rose 3.7% to 136,419 cars, according to figures from the SMMT, “UK car production continued its steady growth in June, leading to a first half-year increase of 3.5%,” said Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive. “With several manufacturers having started assembly of new models this year and billions of pounds of investment still to reach production fruition, this is an exciting time for the UK automotive sector. “However, with this growth comes a need to bolster the domestic supply chain and address major skills shortages; both of which the UK industry is committed to addressing,” he said. Original Story taken from Motor Trader News –http://www.motortrader.com/automotive-news/uk-car-production-rises-3-5-first-half-2/

The best-selling car in Scotland is back with a new look and new engines. The new Vauxhall Corsa. Squint at its outline and you’ll see the ghost of the old one, but all the panels are new, and so is the interior, most of the engines, most of the suspension, and the whole structure forward of the windscreen. So they’re being fair in calling it a new car. Does it carry the proportions and glazing of the old one for any reason other than expediency? Well Vauxhall claims that Corsa buyers, of whom there are lots, actually very much liked the size of the old car as well as its basic look. The supermini class has stopped growing, and the Corsa too retains its 4m length. People want compactness. The old car was well-packaged, so again the new one doesn’t mess with the cabin…

New car registrations rose 6.2% in June to 228,291 units. In the first half of the year registrations rose 10.6% to 1,287,265 units, the best half-year total since 2005, according to the SMMT. The market was driven by attractive finance and PCP deals as carmakers targeted the UK for sales to compensate for weak markets in Europe, which are recovering but from a very low base. The UK market is now on track for 2.4 million new car registrations in 2014, up more than 6% on last year. Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “Improving economic conditions have helped propel the UK new car market to a strong first half-year performance, with registrations up 10.6% on the same period in 2013. “Key to attracting consumers is the ever-improving efficiency of new cars, an important factor that is highlighted by the 51.3% increase in alternatively-fuelled…

Jeep is launching a direct rival to Nissan’s Juke in a move the brand hopes will help treble sales within three years. The Jeep Renegade will launch into the hotly-contested compact crossover market in the first quarter of 2015. It is expected to be a major volume seller, with Jeep looking to increase its 2013 UK sales figures of just 2,200 cars to over 6,000 before the end of 2016. This ambitious growth programme comes just two years after Jeep considered quitting the UK after almost half its network served notice on the franchise. In June 2012 23 dealers decided they were losing too much money to continue with Jeep, leaving the remaining 31 outlets covering only 58% of the brand’s targeted UK markets. Steve Zanlunghi, UK chief executive and managing director of Jeep’s now parent group Fiat, admitted that at that point the…

Peugeot expects its significantly revised 508 to challenge the forthcoming new generation Ford Mondeo in the large family car sector. Dealers will start selling the new 508 saloon, estate and extended ride-height RXH in September, several weeks before the long-delayed new Mondeo arrives in the UK. Prices have not yet been revealed but the brand has made clear its intention clear to move it upmarket. Peugeot describes the new 508 as a “major evolution” of the model rather than a facelift with the revamp extending to new engine choices. The Euro 5 emissions-compliant 1.6-litre THP 156 petrol engine makes way for a Euro 6 model, the THP 165 Stop & Start. As well as offering a 9bhp increase, this unit when matched to a six-speed manual gearbox cuts CO2 emissions from 144g/km to 131g/km. The brand’s BlueHDi diesel engines reach the 508 in two…