Month: April 2023 (Page 3 of 3)

local councils are set to be given powers allowing them to fine motorists who commit minor traffic offences, under new legislation being drawn up by the department for carry (DfT). The step has been criticised for having the potential to turn motorists into a “lucrative cash stream.”
Although authorities in London and Cardiff can already issue fines for moving traffic contraventions, in a lot of areas these are dealt with by the police. This is set to change, though, as the DfT has confirmed it’s planning to give councils widespread power to issue fines of around £70 for offences such as stopping in a yellow box junction, driving in a cycle lane or making an illegal turn.

Councils rake in millions from vehicle parking fines

Speaking in the house of Commons, carry minister Rachel Maclean confirmed the boosted powers, saying that changes being made to the traffic management Act 2004 “will take several months to bring into force, after which those local authorities with civil vehicle parking enforcement powers can apply for a designation buy for moving traffic enforcement.”
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She added: “Statutory support is being developed for local authorities on how to use the powers, including publicising their introduction in advance, to make sure that enforcement is carried out fairly.”
The carry committee previously recommended such procedures be taken, as police no longer have the resources to widely and successfully enforce moving traffic contraventions.
Nicholas Lyes, head of roads policy at the RAC, commented: “While it makes sense for all local authorities to have the power to enforce problematic hotspots, there is a risk that some councils might use this as a rewarding profits raising tool.”
Lyes said the onus must be on councils to make sure road layouts are not confusing, so that unsuspecting motorists are not “snared”. He pointed out that high numbers of fines in one location may indicate something is wrong.
He added: “We also feel that in the first instance alerting letters must be issued to motorists rather than a fine to minimize the chances of councils using this as a rewarding cash stream.”
Do you like the idea of local councils policing traffic offences in their areas? let us know in the comments…

Ford has announced it will develop two new flexible vehicle architectures. The first is a rear-wheel-drive/all-wheel-drive flexible architecture that will underpin future compact and full-size vehicles, including two and three-row SUVs, vans and pick-up trucks. The second scalable battery-electric vehicle platform will be for Ford’s next-generation large pick-up trucks and utility vehicles.
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Speaking at Ford’s capital Markets Day investor presentation, Hau Thai-Tang, chief product platform and operations officer, confirmed the two new scalable platforms. While the second is more relevant for American-market vehicles, the first platform could underpin future European products from the blue Oval.

BMW and mini launch charging service for UK electric car customers

Thai-Tang said, “Just as our customers aren’t all the same, our BEV architectures won’t be either. Our new rear-wheel-drive/all-wheel-drive flexible architecture will deliver a whole new generation of high-volume vehicles with even better returns, because it supports high production scale.
“Our architecture approach still allows us to share parts across vehicles. rest assured, while some of the technologies are shared, the vehicles themselves and the experiences they create for Ford customers will be very different,
“Our new flexible architecture will underpin a range of emotive vehicles slated for production between now and 2030.”
He did not, however, outline when we will see the first new vehicle to be based on this platform.

You only need to look at the Vauxhall Opel Monza concept, revealed at the Frankfurt motor show 2013, to peek at what Vauxhall has in store over the next decade. Its plug-in electric powertrain, futuristic interior and bold looks are all set to trickle down to production models over the next few years – and car express has driven it.
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• Vauxhall news and reviews
In the metal, the Opel-badged Monza coupe is a striking design, and the team behind the project told us the face would appear on the next generation of Vauxhalls (see panel, opposite). The grille is a development of the current design language, while the large intakes and narrow headlights give much more purpose than numerous current cars. The huge gullwing doors – they extend from front to rear – are concept car fantasy, but the ease with which you can get into the Monza’s hi-tech cabin reveals there is something in the idea.
Once inside, you’re presented with dials that merge into the dash as part of a wraparound LED projection screen. It’s customisable by the chauffeur so it can display sat-nav, infotainment or a screensaver-style pattern.
The Vauxhall Monza feels like a car from the distant future, but Ivo van Hukten, chief designer of interior components, told us: “It’s possible best now – you can see it works – but it will take time to get it to production.” Under the bonnet is essentially a development of the powertrain from the Ampera. It’s a plug-in hybrid, with the wheels driven by electric power, but with a petrol engine as a range-extender. Where the Ampera uses a 1.4-litre four-cylinder, the Monza has a three-cylinder 1.0-litre turbo. It’s set to appear in the Adam in autumn next year, which ought to help justify that car’s price, but it’s also a strong bet for the next Ampera.
In the Monza, it’s fuelled by natural gas to lower CO2 emissions even further, but with the batteries fully charged, we never used it. Instead, we cruised silently around quiet residential streets, enjoying the instant torque and outstanding refinement. The drivetrain and dealing with are rough around the edges – as you’d expect from a concept – but the figures beat the current Ampera’s 235mpg. This hi-tech powertrain helps with the Monza’s sleek looks, too, with head of concept cars Frank Leopold revealing: “Smaller batteries leave much more room in the back, while a smaller petrol engine allows a lower bonnet and for that reason roof.”

When we quizzed Opel CEO Karl-Thomas Neumann about a roadgoing version, he said: “A new Manta, inspired by the Monza, may come in a few years.”
There’s a lot of pressure on Vauxhall-Opel to turn its fortunes around, but with exciting cars like the Monza and the innovative tech it previews, you wouldn’t bet against the brands’ future success.

Volkswagen has denied owing £2.5m in missed London congestion charge payments. London mayor Sadiq Khan claims the firm owes the money following the 2015 emissions scandal that saw VW accused of cheating emissions tests.
According to the BBC, Khan said 80,000 VW cars fitted with ‘defeat devices’ designed to cheat diesel emissions testing were registered in the capital. He went on to say that VW had shown “utter contempt” for Londoners and the company’s “appalling lack of action since the ‘dieselgate’ scandal came to light must not be allowed to continue”.
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The mayor added: “I met with the managing director of VW to urge them to compensate the thousands of Londoners who bought VW cars in good faith, but whose diesel engines are now contributing to London’s killer air, and also to reimburse transport for London for the £2.5 million loss of congestion charge revenue.
“Unfortunately VW made it abundantly clear that they have no interest or intention of reimbursing Londoners or indeed any UK customers who bought these polluting vehicles. They are also in denial over their responsibility to help clean up London’s filthy air and mitigate the damage their cars have caused.”
• VW emissions scandal: Dieselgate fix is causing UK breakdowns
However, a Volkswagen spokesperson said its vehicles which benefitted from the London Congestion charge Greener vehicle Discount, an exemption for low-emission vehicles which closed in 2013, “did so validly throughout the relevant period”.
The spokesperson added: “Vehicles qualified for the discount on the basis that their official CO2 emissions figure was less than 100g and met the Euro 5 standard. All of the vehicles affected by the NOx issue have retained their Euro 5 qualification.
“Further, none of the affected vehicles have had their official CO2 emissions figures amended, given that official CO2 values are not affected by the NOx issue.
• London T charge plan: everything you need to know
“There is, therefore, no basis on which it can be said that transport for London has lost any sums as a result of the NOx issue. No sums are therefore due in compensation.”
Volkswagen’s UK boss Paul Willis previously rebuked the suggestion that he misled government ministers over how much the company is willing to contribute to resting in the wake of its emissions scandal.

Do you think Volkswagen should pay the congestion charge bill? give us your thoughts in the comments

two new trim levels for the Volkswagen Passat have been revealed. on sale from 2 January, the Passat executive as well as Passat executive style sit above the entry level S as well as BlueMotion designs in the variety as well as are offered in both saloon as well as estate bodystyles. An all-new Passat is due later this year, as well as is expected to debut at the Paris motor show in September.
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• Volkswagen news as well as reviews
• Volkswagen Passat
The Passat executive replaces the present Highline model, as well as includes 17-inch Michigan alloy wheels, including a full-size spare, plus exterior chrome trim. Estate designs likewise get matt black roofing rails.
Inside, all vehicles get touchscreen sat-nav, leather upholstery, heated front seats as well as electric modification for the driver’s seat. likewise include is 2Zone automatic climate control, automobile lights as well as wipers as well as front as well as rear car parking sensors.
VW declares that the Passat executive includes over £1,700-worth of devices over the Passat Highline, however costs £200 more. That indicates a starting cost of £22,900 for a Passat executive saloon powered by a 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine, rising to £28,160 for a 2.0-litre TDI Passat executive Estate with a DSG gearbox.
If the executive doesn’t offer sufficient kit, VW has likewise added the executive style model, which replaces the sport as well as R-Line trim levels. It has all the set of the executive model, however adds 15mm lower sports suspension, 18-inch Kansas alloys, bi-xenon headlights, front fog lights as well as tinted rear windows.
VW declares this set is worth a lot more than £2,000, although the executive style designs expense £995 a lot more than the Passat Executive. costs for the Passat Exectuive style variety from £23,895-£29,155.

government plans to remove speed humps in order to improve air quality have been attacked by road safety campaigners. 
Last month’s air quality plan highlighted the need for councils to reduce congestion in urban areas to help cut back pollution levels and the ideas put forward by the government include removing speed humps in congested areas so traffic flow could be improved. The thinking is that speed bumps cause drivers to repeatedly accelerate and brake, leading to higher emissions levels in the urban areas where they tend to be used. 
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But these plans have been labelled as “daft and irresponsible” by road safety campaigners who believe they will lead to more accidents. To find out whether speed humps should be removed from our roads or not, auto express has assembled the key arguments from the pro and anti speed hump camps.  
Why we should keep speed humps
Speed humps are vital to road safety as they prevent drivers from speeding, especially in built up areas and school zones. That’s the crux of the argument set out by the pro-speed hump lobby and it was clearly in line with government thinking until recently speed humps were allowed to proliferate on our streets. 
Living Streets, a children’s safety campaign has labelled the plans to get rid of speed bumps as “daft and irresponsible”. speaking to the BBC, it said it was worried that if councils removed speed humps without installing other measures to slow down drivers, children would be at a greater risk when walking to school.