Automotive

Motorists love the thrill of getting their hands on the steering wheel of a new car – but less than ever before are actually doing so. According to research from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders in the Financial Times, used car sales outstripped new sales three-fold in the first half of the year at 4.18 million. That still means that 1.42 million new cars were purchased in that time. What are the advantages? Firstly, you’re driving a car...

A petrol head from Devon has completed a motorcycle road race in a jet-powered shopping trolley. Madcap Matt McKeown of Plymouth built his wacky racer – which has a top speed of 80mph – from an abandoned cart he found in a ditch. He bolted on brakes, go-kart wheels and a 150 horsepower engine from a Chinook helicopter before taking it for time trials. Matt first set a record of 45.5mph then made several tweaks and broke his own record by reaching...

With the economy shrinking and incomes stagnating, the domestic second hand car market is expected to see a boom. If you're thinking about buying a second hand car, once you’ve pondered the decision and decided to go for it, take a look at these handy tips for making sure you get the best and, most importantly, safest car for your money.   How to inspect the car After arranging to view a selection of used cars that you’ve found and...

Volkswagen sends clear message to the market with futuristic new showroom Car production in the UK remains on course to hit an all-time record by 2020, after official figures revealed 10.3% more cars were made in the first three months of 2016 compared to last year. As growth in the UK car manufacturing shows no sign of slowing, 443,581 cars were produced up to the end of March, equating to around one UK-built car being manufactured every 16 seconds. Home market...

Most people, even those who follow what is happening in the automotive industry, consider car tyres as an afterthought, at best. People think that the last advancement in tyre technology was putting air in them, but in reality the tyre industry is a very live one and pretty much all of the tyre manufacturers have serious and well-funded R&D departments which are constantly coming up with upgrades and advancements that make their tyres safer, more fuel efficient and greener. As...

Vine star, Arthur, became an instant hit when he began uploading short videos of his outbursts on the road while driving his truck.  He received an overwhelming response from those that empathized with his road range, begging the question, are we all really that angry on the road? Well, A recent study found that the UK is angriest nation in Europe on the road! With the city of Lincoln named as the worst, with Nottingham being the calmest. While for...

By Ryan Georgiades, Managing Director, Plan Insurance Brokers There’s no doubt that autonomous cars will soon become a reality – but are we ready? Google are at it, Apple fancy a flutter and numerous other major brands have thrown their hat into the ‘self- driving’ ring. It is estimated that by 2030, we’ll just need to tell our vehicles where we want to go - technology will handle the rest. On the face of it, autonomous cars deliver a multitude of...

By Patrick Vernon On any given day, large numbers of people cross the forecourts of motorcycle dealers such as Metropolis looking for a new way to get around and every year some 130,000+ new motorbike registrations are made. There are many reasons people prefer riding a motorbike to driving a car, but one of the most common is the ability to avoid traffic jams. When the jam is not too tightly packed, a slim bike and a skilful rider always has the edge...