When MPVs were real MPVs - 8 August 2023

FOLLOW UP: ULEZ SCRAPPAGE SCHEME EXPANDEDThe Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced that the scrappage scheme for the London ULEZ expansion has been altered to now cover all residents of London, unlike previously where only a small number of eligible groups were allowed to apply. Click this BBC News article link to read more. FOLLOW UP: UBER AV FATALITY LEGAL CASE ENDSThe legal case brought against the test operator, Rafaela Vasquez, who was working for Uber in their autonomous vehicle program who was monitoring the system when it hit and killed Elaine Herzberg five years ago, has ended after she pleaded guilty to endangerment. This has resulted in three years probation but avoids any jail time. Of note is that no charges have ever been brought against Uber or anyone else from the company. Rafaela disputes claims she was watching The Voice on her phone, instead stating she was checking the in-company channel on the app Slack, as the Uber had instructed all operatives to do. Click this article link from WIRED to read more on these developments. We also strongly recommend you check out a piece from Ed Niedermeyer, discussing the case and what it means for the industry and us drivers. You can read that by clicking this link here. NEW CAR REGISTRATION FIGURES FOR JULY 2023 The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), have released the registration figures of new cars, for July 2023. Growth continues once again, which is positive news, but it is still over a decade (apart from the previous two years) to find a worse month. EV registration continue to hover around 16%, with diesel continuing to fall. To read more, click this link to the SMMT article. RESEARCHERS JAILBREAK A TESLAWith physical access to a Tesla researchers have managed to access parts of the system that allow them to enable some options and activate them, without handing over their money to the company. As more companies fit all options and then hide them behind extra payments we will likely see a rise in such activities. You can find out more by clicking this TechCrunch article link here. CALIFORNIA DATA PRIVACY AGENCY INVESTIGATES CAR DATACalifornian’s privacy regulator has announced it is investigating the collection and sharing of data by connected cars. This follows some moves in Europe. Click here to learn more, from a MSM news link. 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 - Toyota Land CruiserAlan clarifies the different model sizes of the range, which many in the US could’ve done with understanding when reporting on the reveal of the new Land Cruiser. The looks have been inspired by their historical models but they have managed not to create a pastiche. In the UK we will get the same 2.8 litre diesel until late next years when a mild hybrid powertrain will be available. Prices are expected to increase, with the base model creeping past £50,000, as a result in the upgrade to the quality and feel of the car. Click this Autocar link to read more. Pininfarina Pura Vision conceptPininfarina has shown us their utterly enormous luxury SUV which fails to hit the spot for the chaps. They struggle to work out who it is for and where it might be appropriate to have. You can see more of this incredible display of excess by clicking this Top Gear link here. Volvo axes all saloons and estatesVolvo is culling all saloon and estate variants from its UK range. Emergency services will still be able to purchase these models, however. Whilst this is a disappointing move, the business case is understandable. To read more, click this Autocar link here. For some tongue in cheek coverage, click this link to an amusing Top Gear link. LUNCHTIME READ: TIRED OF RECORD-SETTING CARS?Michael Banovsky, via his newsletter Man I Drive Your Car, brings the recommended reading this week. Discussing the constant and seemingly never ending record breaking efforts of the car industry and how irrelevant they are to so many of us. Click this link to read more, and do not to forget to sign up to his newsletter to receive more of his thoughtful work. LIST OF THE WEEK: BEST CARS OF THE 90SContinuing on from last week, we step back a decade and trawl through the best offerings of the 1990s. Lots of choice in this Autocar slideshow. Don’t for get to tell us your selection. Click here to check out what is on offer. AND FINALLY: GOOGLE MAPS CAR IN POLICE CHASEThe driver of a Google Maps car, for unknown reasons, decided to flee when he spied a police car. Follow a chase, involving speeds in excess of 100mph, the car came to rest in the bank of a river after attempting a Dukes of Hazzard style jump and failing. Click this link from The Drive to read more.