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All Set To Succeed – Kia’s Popular Hatch On Test
Kia has brought us some exciting cars over the last few years, the most recent being its new fully electric EV6, set to compete with the best on the market. Mainstay of the Korean company’s range for many years is the popular Ceed family hatchback and this has just received a comprehensive update to keep it fresh.
Swedish Delight – Volvo’s Plug-in XC60 On Test
Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor
The second generation of Volvo’s premium mid-size SUV has been on sale for a few years now and despite an array of talented opposition, it still competes for class honours. The Germans lead the charge with the BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC, whilst home grown offerings from Jaguar and Land Rover cannot be ignored.
1:45 AM 8th January 2022
My Motoring Year – Part 3
Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor
‘Quite astonishing. Vantage Volante’
I hadn’t intended my round up of the year to turn into quite such an essay, but despite restrictions, it turned out to be a very busy year. So back to it…
1:30 AM 1st January 2022
My Motoring Year – Part 2
Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor
‘Civic Type R - not for the shy and retiring!’
As 2021 rolled on and the UK emerged slowly from lockdown restrictions, the number of car launches increased. At first, I was a little reticent to attend, but soon life began to get back to normal.
10:36 AM 30th December 2021
My Motoring Year – Part 1
Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor
‘Defender and driver ready for anything’
After the lull of the Christmas holidays, it is always great to get back to road testing. I don’t do sitting around very well unless it is behind the wheel of a car.
1:00 AM 27th December 2021
Pothole Claims Increased By 39% Since 2016
Photo by Matt Hoffman on Unsplash
Ahead of National Pothole Day on Saturday January 15th, Admiral Motor Insurance releases data which reveals claims for pothole damage has increased by 39% since 2016.
1:00 AM 15th January 2022
Weird Road Signs From Around The World
The world’s most unusual road signs have been named by researchers - and even the most experienced drivers could be baffled by some of them.
1:30 AM 8th January 2022
Six New Year's Resolutions For Drivers
With data showing the most popular resolutions in 2019 and 2020 were improving fitness, losing weight and saving money, 2022 might be the year to set some new resolutions. Motorists who are tired of setting the same new year's resolutions year on year should aim to use the new year to improve a vital part of their everyday lives, their cars.
1:00 AM 1st January 2022
Driving Home For Christmas - The Checklist
Top to toe in tailbacks with red lights all around, the feeling of heading home for the festive season is like no other! However, it is important motorists looking to head home for the festive season carry out crucial car checks.
2:00 PM 23rd December 2021
Jack Of All Trades – Volkswagen’s Multivan Is Here
Pricing starts at £43,160 for all-new Multivan Order books for all-new Multivan open in January 2022, with first deliveries from March Multivan to be offered with plug-in hybrid option for the first time Highlights include flexible interior, connected services, and advanced safety technology The Multivan is the replacement for the current Volkswagen Caravelle, and features a fresh d…
2:00 AM 22nd December 2021
Driving Home For Christmas? - Remember These Rules
Anyone driving home for Christmas in the coming days, should make sure they’re not risking invalidating their insurance through rule-breaking, experts at temporary car insurance provider, Dayinsure, have advised.
12:15 AM 20th December 2021
Kia Ceed Gets A Facelift – First Drive
Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor
Kia has brought us some exciting cars over the last few years, the most recent being its new fully electric EV6, set to compete with the best on the market. Mainstay of the Korean company’s range for many years is the popular Ceed family hatchback and this has just received a comprehensive update to keep it fresh.
1:00 AM 18th December 2021
Top 25 Movie Cars Of All Time, According To Brits
The nationwide study found that the car most closely associated with the Bond franchise, which appeared in the 1964 film Goldfinger starring Sean Connery as Bond, came top of the multiple-choice list of the most memorable screen cars, with 65 percent of the vote.
12:30 AM 18th December 2021
Christmas Drink-driving Concerns
Despite lockdown restrictions, roughly 118 drink-drive arrests were made PER DAY last December
12:30 AM 17th December 2021
Download Free Location App What3words Before Heading Out On The Roads This Winter
As the UK prepares for the first Christmas in two years where families and friends can come together, those travelling to visit loved ones will face a significant increase in traffic for the festive period.
12:59 PM 16th December 2021
Polestar 2 – A Week Behind The Wheel
You may not be familiar with the Polestar name, but that is all about to change. In the not so distant past, Polestar was the performance branch of Volvo, breathing a little magic on their top-flight offerings. Polestar is now a standalone brand, sitting with Volvo under the umbrella of parent company Geely.
11:12 AM 14th December 2021
DVLA Reveals The Most Unusual Car Names
Research by DVLA shows that 1 in 6 motorists have named their car, with 27% of those surveyed admitting they had given their motor a moniker.
12:10 AM 11th December 2021
Lotus Emira – A First Glimpse
An invite to the Concorde Hangar at Manchester airport seemed a great opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. Not only would I be able to take a look at the new Lotus Emira, on its tour of the UK prior to launching next spring, but also, I would be able to get up close to Concorde.
1:00 AM 4th December 2021
Morgan Plus Six – An Autumn Tale
This time last year I was lucky enough to get behind the wheel of my first Morgan and it left quite an impression. I soon overlooked the Plus Four’s foibles and enjoyed a fun-packed, roof-down week behind the wheel. Sitting on my drive awaiting collection is a rather splendid Plus Six, resplendent in Viper Green.
1:00 AM 27th November 2021
Winter Is Coming: How To De-ice Your Vehicle Quickly
Photo by Ben Stein on Unsplash
Carole Nash of the Ardonagh Group advises motorists on the best way to care for their vehicles ahead of the first frost of 2021 Getting rid of stubborn frost can be a laborious task, but it is an important one. Many motorists don’t realise that driving with frost on your windscreen is against the rules of the Highway Code and is supported by law.
12:15 AM 27th November 2021
The Range Topping Genesis GV80 On Test
Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor
Genesis has now brought its range of Korean premium luxury cars to the UK. The company was established some five years ago and is the luxury arm of Hyundai. It has to be said that the concept is not new. Most will be familiar with Lexus from Toyota, some less so with Infiniti, owned by Nissan and which abandoned the UK market last year, with little sign of any success.
2:33 PM 24th November 2021
Preventing Car And Vehicle Theft
Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor
Don't let thieves get an easy ride. Follow these simple rules to protect your car.
2:00 AM 20th November 2021
Rolls-Royce Wraith Black Badge – The Ultimate Grand Tourer
Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor
It is always thrilling to become temporary custodian of an interesting press car, but the air of excitement in the build up to delivery of a Rolls-Royce is in another league altogether. They really are something quite special. I have been lucky enough to drive a Wraith on a couple of occasions, so it was easy to get acquainted once again.
2:50 PM 17th November 2021
Mokka-e On Test – Vauxhall’s Sparky SUV
Vauxhall customers are a loyal bunch. Sales of the first generation Mokka are a testament to that, as traditional Astra and Insignia buyers moved on to the delights of SUV motoring. Now there’s a new and rather striking Mokka on sale and surely the next stage on their automotive journey is to purchase a fully electric version, now on sale.
2:00 AM 13th November 2021
Drivers Miss Out On More Than £2m Of Savings By Not Renewing Photocard Driving Licences Online
New figures released by DVLA show that drivers missed out on £2.3 million of savings by not renewing their photocard driving licence online.
7:56 PM 9th November 2021
Is Your Car Ready For Winter? Time To Check
With colder weather now open us, it is undoubtedly time to give your car the once over. Many of my tips require no expertise, just a little time and if you are not sure, then most garages will help.
5:00 AM 6th November 2021
Top Five Tips To Steer Clear Of Potholes
Motorists are being urged to learn the best ways to avoid damage to their vehicles - with news more funding could see up to one million potholes filled on UK roads. Last week Chancellor Rishi Sunak pledged £5bn to spend on local roads maintenance works as part of this year’s Autumn Budget and Spending Review.
1:15 AM 6th November 2021
Porsche Macan – Still The One To Beat
Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor
Let us turn the clock back. Porsche, renowned maker of desirable sports cars wanted to expand. Much to many aficionados’ consternation, jumping on the SUV bandwagon was seen to be the way forward. But what a smart move this was. Cayenne was the first to be launched, with the smaller Macan following a few years later.
4:50 PM 2nd November 2021
Peugeot 3008 – Still As Alluring As Ever
Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor
The second generation of the 3008 has been on sale for over five years. Time then for a mid-life refresh and the chance for me to get back behind the wheel once again. Exterior styling has been smartened up, most noticeably around the radiator grille and headlights.
5:00 AM 30th October 2021
Time To Check Your Tyres – Be Ready For Winter
Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor
As UK residents prepare to put their clocks back in readiness for the winter, Bridgestone is urging motorists to take some simple driving tips to stay as safe as possible as the nights grow longer. With a drop in temperatures also being felt, Bridgestone is calling on motorists to adopt some simple driving habits to stay as safe as possible.
4:30 AM 30th October 2021
Ineos Grenadier Tour – The Yorkshire Leg
Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor
One of the advantages of being very wealthy is that it allows you to make your dreams come true. For Sir Jim Radcliffe, the British billionaire chemical engineer and industrialist, this has allowed him to turn his idea for an all-new off-road vehicle into reality.
4:40 AM 23rd October 2021
Tips For Driving Safely In The Dark And During Rutting Season
With the darker nights approaching and the commence of rutting season, the most difficult time of year to be driving has begun.
4:05 AM 23rd October 2021
Jeep Wrangler – The Formidable Rubicon Version On Test
Think off-roader and two manufacturers immediately spring to mind. Land Rover is of course our home-grown offering, but from across the pond there is Jeep. Best known is the Wrangler, the looks of which hark back to the Willys that began production during World War II and then became known as Jeeps.
4:15 AM 16th October 2021
Levy Of Just £5 A Day Could Take Millions Of Cars Off The Road, Research Reveals
According to a nationally-representative survey into 2,000 UK workers, conducted by corporate transport technology specialist Kura, an increase of just £5 to daily travel costs may hold the key to solving the UK’s car-led climate emergency.
4:00 AM 16th October 2021
Faulty Tyres Could Land Drivers £10k Fine.... And 12 Points
October is Tyre Safety Month, the annual reminder to make sure vehicles’ wheels are roadworthy. Motorists using illegal, defective or under-inflated tyres can lead to serious outcomes and in 2019 contributed to 5 fatal collisions and 136 serious collisions according to figures from the Department for Transport.
4:00 AM 16th October 2021
A Master Stroke – Renault’s Capacious Electric Van On Test
Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor
I have been driving vans most of my adult life and am in fact the proud owner of an elderly panel van. It has not been a paragon of reliability and is probably past its use by date. Although far more refined than vans of old, my elderly load lugger is not the quietest, with wind and road noise competing with the drone of the turbo-diesel engine, now past its prime.
10:00 AM 12th October 2021
Resurfacing Will Bring Smoother Journeys On The M62 In West Yorkshire
Resurfacing work on the M62 in West Yorkshire will bring safer, smoother journeys for road users. National Highways will carry out the work on both carriageways between junctions 26 (Chain Bar) and 27 (Gildersome) from Monday, 18 October to Friday, 5 November. The M62-M621 clockwise link road will also be resurfaced.
8:23 PM 11th October 2021
New Dacia Duster – Launch Review
Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor
The Duster first went on sale in Europe back in 2010 with UK sales beginning some three years later. An undoubted success for the Renault-owned Romanian brand, over 1.9 million cars have been sold thus far. When the Duster first arrived on our shores, the opening price of just £8,995 shocked many. How could a company import the cars, sell them and make a profit?
4:20 AM 9th October 2021
The Most Googled Motoring Problems In The UK
Image by Pexels from Pixabay
Google is often the first port of call when we have a question we don’t know the answer to, and this is no exception when it comes to dealing with the maintenance of our cars. Whether it’s changing tyres or replacing windscreen wipers, Uswitch has analysed google search data to reveal the most common motoring queries in the UK.
4:00 AM 9th October 2021
Traffic Bulletin: A1(M) Slip Road Closures Near Wetherby, North Yorkshire
Drivers wanting to use junction 46 of the A1(M) near Wetherby are advised to plan their routes and allow extra time for their journeys from Monday, 4 October due to local authority roadworks. The entry and exit slip roads on both carriageways will be closed overnight to allow North Yorkshire County Council to resurface the roundabout above the junction. Wetherby Services will also be closed.
12:11 PM 2nd October 2021
Meet The Hybrid Range Rover P400e – Dressed To Impress
For many years the Range Rover has been the default prestige 4x4, loved by wealthy country types and city slickers in equal measure. With a combination of understated good looks, unrivalled off-road pedigree and a sumptuous cabin, a Range Rover has the ability to isolate its occupants from the world at large, whatever the terrain and deliver them unruffled to journey’s end.
4:10 AM 2nd October 2021
My Parrot Destroyed My Vehicle Registration Certificate Among Most Unusual Reasons
The most unusual reasons people have shared with DVLA for needing a replacement vehicle registration certificate (V5C)
4:00 AM 2nd October 2021
Traffic Bulletin: A64 Closure For Bridge Work In North Yorkshire
Road users on the A64 near York are advised to plan their journeys and allow extra time to travel tomorrow night. The westbound carriageway will be closed between Fulford and Askham Bar from 8pm on Friday, 1 October to 9am the following morning to allow National Highways to carry out repairs on the Bishopthorpe Bridge.
8:30 PM 30th September 2021
The Northern Group Of Motoring Writers’ Car Of The Year 2021
Andy Harris
Motoring and Property Editor
I am now in my third year as chairman of the Northern Group of Motoring Writers. It is the oldest regional group of automotive journalists in the UK, and I feel very honoured to be at the helm. First founded in 1973, the group is open to professional motoring writers across the North of England.
4:30 AM 25th September 2021
Daniel Craig Looks Set To Be The Most Bike-obsessed Bond Of All Time
Motorcycles have been subtly dominating Bond films ever since the 90s After No Time To Die, Daniel Craig will have introduced ten motorcycles to the Bond franchise The new film will feature two new Triumph motorcycles: the Tiger 900 and Scrambler 1200 Honda is James Bond’s all-time favourite motorcycle brand Nearly half of all Bond motorcycles come from Japanese manufacturers
4:00 AM 25th September 2021
Finding Fuel In Shortages
Image by andreas160578 from Pixabay
News this week reports fuel shortages at UK petrol stations due to HGV driver shortages, meaning some petrol stations have closed as they’ve not been able to restock.
3:30 AM 25th September 2021
Have Your Say On £1bn A66 Dualling Proposal
The £1 billion proposal would dual the remaining sections of A66 and improve a number of key junctions
Plans to transform the A66 with the biggest investment on the north’s road network for a generation go under the microscope today as the public is urged to have a say on the latest designs for the £1bn project.
1:15 PM 24th September 2021
M6 Motorway Upgrade Zone Extension
The construction zone for National Highways’ multi-million pounds upgrade of the M6 between Warrington and Wigan is being extended at the end of the month, as the project progresses to the next phase. National Highways, formerly Highways England, is working to provide extra lanes and new technology along the motorway between junction 21a and junction 26.
8:06 AM 23rd September 2021
Land Rover Discovery Sport – The Plug-in Hybrid Version On Test
I was lucky enough to watch the first Land Rover Discovery Sport roll off the production line at Halewood way back in 2014. It remains the company’s best-selling model.
4:44 PM 18th September 2021
Cool Coupe -BMW M4 Competition On Test
Hot on the heels of the rather swish 4-Series Convertible I tested recently, came the rather striking coupe variant, in top M4 Competition guise. M Series cars from BMW are always rather special and this new model has been much anticipated. It is not a cheap car, with a starting price of just over £76,400 before raiding the options list.
12:08 PM 7th September 2021
Transit Custom Nugget – Ford’s Compact Camper On Test
With foreign holidays put on hold due to the pandemic, sales of motorhomes and campervans have boomed over the last year or so. Second hand prices have risen sharply and good vehicles are in short supply.
11:08 AM 5th September 2021
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