It started back in 2010 when the BBC battled to get VOSA to release MoT test data. They initially said no, but the Information Commissioner’s pressure resulted in VOSA finally releasing basic MoT pass rates data, with an agreement to release more data periodically throughout the future. The Conservative Government then oversaw the launch of the OpenData website, so at last, full MoT data was available for crunching. 40GB worth, in fact, covering 200 million MoT records – so not for the fainthearted! The data included MoT test results from 2006, which was the year in which the test system  [...]

For obvious reasons, droves of manufacturers and hence car buyers are turning their attention to developing better and better electric cars, whether they be fully electric or hybrids working on conjunction with petrol engines. Chevrolet have come up with something which doesn’t really fit into either bracket in its view. It’s called the Volt and is marketed as an ‘Extended Range Electric Vehicle’. The Chevrolet Volt has made a fairly big splash in the electric car pool, as it has already won the 2012 Car Of the Year award. So what’s so special about the Volt? It’s real USP is  [...]

No more waiting, for all you fans of the Porsche Boxster. Over the last couple of days, the first examples of the new Boxster for 2012 rolled into showrooms across the UK and Ireland. Okay, it doesn’t look leaps and bounds different from the previous model, but like they always seem to do, it sounds like Porsche have gone and made the new Boxster that extra bit better, somehow. So what’s new for the 2012 Boxster? It’s got a lightweight body, which at 35KG less than the outgoing version, means it’s sure to handle better and ultimately be faster, going by the rules of physics. To  [...]

The iconic Mercedes G-Class (sometimes called the G-Wagen / G-Wagon) is now 33 years old! Since 1979, its aesthetics haven’t changed that much, which is what so many people love about it. Back in 1979, it was purposed to be a hardcode off-road vehicle – and that is still the case today. But to keep up with the times, and with the law, Mercedes had to give the new G-Class DRLs (daytime running lights) in the form of LEDs. The mirrors are new for 2012 too, but that’s really about it, externally speaking! Inside, Mercedes have stepped up the luxuriousness of the G-Class, with a totally new  [...]

In this week’s Auto Express magazine, car valuation specialists CAP have published a survey of the lowest depreciating cars in the UK. By lowest depreciating, we mean cars which retain the largest percentage of their value – the opposite of many large, luxury cars, which often lose a large chunk of their value as soon as they are driven off the dealer’s forecourt. It’s often down to supply and demand. On the nearly-new and used markets, if certain models are scarce, they will hold onto more of their value. So which cars made it onto the podium of CAP’s survey in Auto Express? They  [...]

One of the main news headlines over recent days has been and continues to be the story regarding fuel tanker drivers in the UK, who have voted in favour of an imminent strike. They are backed by the Unite union and the row is over terms and conditions, plus safety. A massive 61.1% of the tanker drivers balloted by Unite voted ‘yes’ to a strike. Union bosses have warned the Government that the walk-out will likely result in massive disruption and chaos, as many supermarkets, forecourt chains and independent petrol and diesel fuel retailers may run out of fuel quite quickly, especially as  [...]

The increasingly successful British car engineering firm Jaguar Land Rover (JLR for short) plans to connect with a large number of youngsters today at the Birmingham NEC exhibition centre, as part of the ‘The Big Bang’ science and engineering fair. Jaguar Land Rover is very keen for more young people to think about studying towards and entering into careers in engineering and design in the automotive car industry. Why so? The reason is that, despite Jaguar Land Rover experiencing tremendous success with their Discovery, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Evoque, Evoque Convertible  [...]

We have a feeling the styling and ethos of this one might well cause a fair bit of division over the coming weeks and months… behold what could be Cheshire-based British car maker Bentley’s first SUV, the EXP 9 F. Bentley are showcasing their SUV vision at the Geneva International Salon d’Auto 2012 (or Geneva Motor Show, as many call it). Bentley have long sought for their vehicles to be heralded as the pinnacle of their respective segments, so it goes without saying that if Bentley produce an SUV like the EXP 9F, they will want it to be the very best SUV out there. The ‘F’ stands  [...]

Remember BBC Top Gear’s Christmas Special which saw presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May muck about in India in a Jaguar XJS, Mini Cooper and Rolls Royce Silver Shadow, in an effort to boost British trade with India along with ‘that’ lawnmower? Well if you’re visiting the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu in Hampshire, you’re in for a treat. All four of the cars from the presenters’ Christmas Special India Challenge are now on show at the World of Top Gear exhibition at Beaulieu from this week! Yes, indeed, you can get up close and personal with the actual  [...]

On the 19th December 2011, Saab officially declared bankruptcy, ending almost 65 years of vehicle manufacturing from the Swedish company. Anyone who owns a Saab registered after March 2009 will most likely find their vehicle warranty null and void, meaning that any mechanical or electrical faults on vehicles registered after this time will not be covered by Saab themselves. This is where Quentin Willson comes in, he has vowed to offer every Saab owner, who has been affected by the recent Saab closure, a special deal on a “like for like” extended warranty on their car. Quentin is the  [...]