Challenging - 15 July 2025

FOLLOW UP: MORE OEMS INVESTIGATED FOR DEFEAT DEVICESThe Times is reporting that more brands are now being brought into the Department for Transport (DfT) investigation into the use of defeat devices. This is where they pass the emissions testing regime but are set up to a different output when used on the public roads. Now there are 72 models from 27 brands being looked at. Click this article link to read more. LEVC TO CUT JOBS IN COVENTRYLEVC is to cut 180 jobs at it’s Coventry facility due to an increasingly difficult business conditions. The site is already running well below capacity, apparently. If you wish to learn more, click this Autocar article link here. CHERY IS COMING TO THE UKChery, the owner of Jaecoo and Omada, is coming to the UK with it’s own vehicles later in the year. They chose to announce this with two vehicles at Goodwood’s Festival of Speed. To read more, click this Motor Trader article link here. MUNRO TO EXPANDMunro, the Scottish EV maker who focuses on rugged commercial type vehicles, is planning to expand their operation following the appointment of a new chairman, Avinash Rugoobur. Following a period of testing the company expects to fulfil the order book that currently have. You can find out more, by clicking this EV Powered article link here. CAR THEFT DATAThe Loop Agency has investigated car theft data and decided to present it as number sold divided by the number stolen. This then gives a different perspective on the DVLA’s information, penalising smaller selling vehicles. If you want to read more, click this Autocar article link here. FRANCE TRIAL IN-ROAD CHARGING SYSTEMOn a short section of the A10 near Paris, in-road electric vehicle charging infrastructure is being installed ahead of a trial due to begin in September for charging your EV as you drive, via inductive charging. To find out more, click this EV Powered article link here. FRAUD CHARGES FOR RUNAWAY CAR DRIVERIn March 2024 the driver of a Jaguar I-Pace called the police to claim his car could not decelerate, this led to an incident that covered the M58, M57 and M62 in Lancashire and Merseyside. After being brought to a stop the police and JLR forensically investigated the car, which has resulted with the individual being charged with two counts of fraud, causing a public nuisance and dangerous driving. Click this EV Powered article for more. If you like what we do, on this show, and think it is worth a £1.00, please consider supporting us via Patreon. Here is the link to that CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST NEW NEW CAR NEWS - Fiat 500 HybridAfter 17 years, the Fiat 500 petrol platform is being retired as a new mild hybrid version will be sold, based on the 500e underpinnings. Further updates will occur to the exterior, to enable cooling to the engine and the interior. Click this Autocar article to find out more. Aston Martin Vantage SAston Martin bring back the S model, for the Vantage. Along with the badge comes oodles of power and tweaks to the chassis and suspension set up to enable drivers to take advantage of the upgrade to the engine. Click this Autocar article link here, to read more. Bentley EX 15 ConceptBentley has revealed the EX 15, a raised up two-door coupe that is apparently an urban SUV. The company says it is a hint at the direction future models will go, in terms of looks. Click this Autocar article link here to see more. LUNCHTIME WATCH: GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED HIGHLIGHTSWe have compiled the list below, of the Goodwood Festival of Speed highlights, they’ve published on their YouTube channel. This should cover your lunches for a week! Click here for Thursday’s highlights. Click here for Friday’s highlights.Click here for Saturday’s highlights. Click here for Sunday’s highlights. Click here for Sunday’s Rally Stage livestream. Click here for the Hillclimb Shoot Out final. LIST OF THE WEEK: THE FINEST MID-ENGINED MARVELSAutocar has come up with a huge and cracking list of mid-engined cars for you to check out. Agree with Alan and Andrew? Click here to see what options you have. AND FINALLY: WHEEL OF FORTUNEHagerty provide a short list of classic wheels, which is too short to be a List of the Week, but is equally too good to not share with you. Click here to read more and take a trip down memory lane.