Effusively effusive - 3 September 2024

RAC RECOMMENDS DITCHING FUEL DUTY CUTThe RAC, who have long been highlighting how fuel retailers are not passing on the fuel duty cut to consumers, have recommended to the Government that they remove this in the upcoming Budget. Their argument is that drivers are not seeing the benefit and companies are only lining their pockets. To read more on this, click the link here to a BBC News article. HACKNEY PROPOSAL FOR MOTORCYCLE PARKING CHALLENGED A legal challenge has been filled against Hackney Council after their proposal to impose a parking fee at the same rate as a car, for residents. The council expects the move to reduce motorcycle commuting by 70%, in the face of evidence that it is better to shift from a car to a motorcycle. To help this challenge succeed a crowdfunding campaign is in operation. Click this link to a Motorcycle Action Group page for more. HYUNDAI UPDATES MODEL PLANSHyundai is the latest company to announce a revision to their model and powertrain plans, in the face of market conditions. They will expand their hybrid offerings, including adding a range-extender. These moves, it hopes, will counter the fears that markets have about making the switch to fully electric vehicles. If you want to read more, click this AMOnline article link here. LOTUS SLASHES SALES FORECASTLotus, blaming tariffs on Chinese built EVs, has slashed its sales forecast from 55,000 vehicles to just 12,000. With next year being down from 76,000 to 30,000. In the first half of 2024 Lotus sold 4873 cars globally. Whilst this is a record, it is no where near where it needed to be if 55,000 were to be sold. Click this Autocar article link here, to read more. NEW CEO FOR POLESTARThomas Ingenlath has resigned as CEO of Polestar, he will be replaced by ex-Opel-Vauxhall boss Michael Lohscheller. Lohscheller, recently, was the CEO of Vinfast and president of Nikola Motors. You can read more about this, by clicking this Autocar article link here. HMRC CUTS EV MILEAGE RATESHMRC has announced that they are cutting the Advisory Fuel Rates (AFRs) for EVs, reducing it to 7ppm, from 8ppm. There are, as a result, calls to change how this is done because it does not actually cover the costs of business users, especially if they do not have a home charger. Click this FleetNews article link for more. LEX AUTOLEASE PROFITS PLUNGE £400MLex Autolease, the business leasing company, has announced a drop in pre-tax profits of £400 million, in the face of increased revenues. A large portion of this is attributed to the fall in EV residuals at rates far more than anticipated. As we have said on the show, there are consequences which will impact both new and second hand markets. Click this AMOnline article link to read 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 As discussed in the show, there is a new way to play podcasts on non-Apple devices as they have brought the Podcast app to web browsers. Click this Podnews link to find out how to install and use it on your device. Thank you to James Cridland, the editor at Podnews, for making it easy to help more people listen to podcasts (and hopefully ours) with that guide. NEW NEW CAR NEWS - Citroën C5 AircrossCitroën are rationalising their model range, as a result the saloon C5 X will be removed from sale and the new C5 Aircross will be the range topper. Based on the Stellantis Medium Platform it will come with a variety of powertrain options, from full EV to hybrid. To read more on this, including Alan’s favourite quote, click this Autocar article link here. Hyundai N Vision 74Hyundai announced there will be a limited production run of the N Vision 74 hydrogen coupe inspired by the Giorgetto Giugiaro Pony Coupe concept first shown in 1974. As ever, the only issue will be finding a fuelling station, if any come to the UK. For more on this story, click the link here to a Top Gear article. Kingsley DefenderKingsley, renowned for the tasteful and superb restomods based on Series 1 Range Rovers has now taken on the original Defender. The D90 and D110 can be wonderfully updated with all manner of finishes, thanks to a starting price of £168,000. Click this Motoring Research article link to read more and find the Kingsley configurator link. Hyundai online car hub on Amazon UKHyundai are bringing their Amazon car hub to the UK. This will allow prospective buyers the opportunity to learn more about the cars, specify their preferred model and options and book a test drive. They will need to visit a dealership to finalise any purchase though. If you want to read more about that, click this Motoring Research article link here. POINTS OF INTEREST: ALAN DROVE A CARIn a change to our normal running order, we bring you a little adventure that Jim from AlsoDriven took Alan on, as they drove around Boston and Manhattan in a Smart Crossblade. If you wish to know what that was all about, click this YouTube link to see more. AND FINALLY: JEN ORPIN’S ARTClassic & Sports Car brings us the art of Jen Orpin, a Manchester based painter who’s paintings are of roads and bridges and the likes. All of them are wonderful. Do click this link to see more, as well as links to her Etsy store and site.