Happy chirpy - 22 September 2025

FOLLOW UP: JLR WOES STILL CONTINUEJLR have put back their proposed production restart from 24 September to 1 October as they continue to try and deal with the hack on their systems where the effects became apparent on 1 September. What has only started to be appreciated is the knock-on effect the closures have had on suppliers to the company. Staff have been told to apply for Universal Credit, due to stopped wages, and many are calling on a furlough scheme to be instigated by the Government. To read more about the ongoing issues for JLR, click this Autocar article link here. To gain an understanding of the affects down the supply chain, click this article link from The Record. CITROËN ISSUES NEW NO-DRIVE WARNINGCitroën UK has issued a new no-drive warning, covering the C3, ë-C3, C3 Aircross and ë-C3Aircross, due to potential brake failure. This no-drive notice is on top of the other two the company is already dealing with. Click this Autocar article link here to read more. PORSCHE DELAY EV MOVE GIVING VW GROUP $6BN PROFIT HITPorsche has announced that they are delaying their move to EVs as had been expected. The Panamera and Cayenne will have ICE and hybrid options into 2030, rather than going all electric. Likewise the new 718 models. The projected hit to Volkswagen Group profits is a smidgen under $6 billion, following this move. You can read more by clicking this Yahoo! Finance article link here. NISSAN SHRINKS LONDON DESIGN STUDIO AND CLOSES OTHERSNissan cost cutting efforts have been turned to the design studios across the globe. Those in California and Brazil will be shut, with the Paddington studio expected to lose some staff numbers too. Click this Autocar article link here. FORD CUTS JOBS IN GERMANYDue to much weaker than expected sales of the Explorer and Capri, Ford has announced that it is cutting up to 1,000 jobs at their Cologne factory. This is on top of the previous 2,900 jobs that went at the end of 2024.If you wish to read more, click this Autocar article link here. TOM MATANO HAS PASSED AWAYTom Matano was the designer of the first two generations of the Mazda MX-5 and has sadly passed away on 20 September 2025, aged 76. He had a long career where he worked for GM, BMW and then onto Mazda. To learn more about him and his career, click this Classic & Sports Car article link here. BUFFETT SELLS ENTIRE BYD STAKEWarren Buffett, the renowned investor, has sold his entire stake in the Chinese EV maker BYD. This is the first time since 2008 that Berkshire Hathaway did not hold any stock in the company. Click this article link from Fortune for more information. TOYOTA AE86 ENGINE BLOCKS BEING BUILT AGAINToyota is building the parts for engine blocks of the classic AE86, as they become the latest brand to help classic car owners use factory made parts. We applaud such moves and hope other companies look back at their heritage and offer to help drivers in a similar way. You can find out more, by clicking this EVO article link here. 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 - Hyundai Ioniq BJ/3 ConceptWe apologise for missing out, in last week’s review of the Munich Motor Show, one of the few interesting cars by omitting the Hyundai Ioniq BJ/3 Concept. This could be a preview to how the company designs smaller electric vehicles. Regardless, we think it looks great. Click this Autocar article link and go to Slide 7, to see moreKia K4Kia has revealed the K4 an ICE and hybrid powered hatchback to rival the likes of the Golf. The car’s dimensions mean it straddles the line between C and D segments, although this should be to the benefit of those on the inside. Good to see brands still looking to bring us cars and not just SUVs. Click this Motoring Research link here to read more. Eccentrica Diablo Pacchetto TitanoAs we continue to try and lift the mood of the first half of the show, we bring you this wonderful restomod from Eccentrica, a Lamborghini Diablo refresh. Rest assured though, it does have a V12 as well as a lovely looking interior. Click this Motoring Research article link here to read more. LUNCHTIME READ: CHINA IS SENDING ITS WORLD-BEATING AUTO INDUSTRY INTO A TAILSPINReuters bring a very lengthy article explaining the rise of China’s EV industry and how they have been successful but now are hurting themselves. This will go some way to illuminate why more and more brands are looking overseas for market share. To read more, click the article link here. LIST OF THE WEEK: 24 MEMORABLE MICHELOTTI CLASSICSGiovanni Michelotti produced a wide variety of vehicles for the likes of Triumph, Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and Leyland buses. Click this link here from Classic & Sports Car, to see what options you have when it comes to picking your favourite. AND FINALLY: MAZDA PATENT IS A GASMazda has patented an engine that will separate hydrogen from petrol to burn the hydrogen but not the carbon. However, the engine can still burn carbon if the process isn’t extracting enough hydrogen to run the combustion side of things. Can they make it? Will it save the internal combustion engine? Time will tell. To read more, click this CarBuzz article link here.