Car tax changes for 2020 come into effect today, Wednesday 1st April and will introduce a widespread package of updates to all vehicle owners. At the top, the bottom line is that most new car owners will pay more tax from today 1st April, but electric car owners – both new and existing – pay zero, saving many around £1,600 over five years.

2020 road tax changes for cars, vans and motorcycles

Car tax changes for 2020 come into effect today, Wednesday 1st April and will introduce a widespread package of updates to all vehicle owners.

At the top, the bottom line is that most new car owners will pay more tax from today 1st April, but electric car owners – both new and existing – pay zero, saving many around £1,600 over five years.

Tax rates are based on their CO2 emissions for the first 12 months on the road, after this the rate will remain as a flat annual fee. For petrol or diesel cars, this will be £150 per year. For hybrids and alternative fuel cars like liquid petroleum gas (LPG), this will be £140 per year. Fully-electric cars and cars like the hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai pay £0.

Fossil-fuelled car tax – what are the changes? 

The Chancellor's recent budget confirmed car tax rates for non-electric vehicles will be increasing under the new updates. VED costs will increase from today, although heavy goods vehicles will be exempt to support the sector. 

The budget statement said: “The government will uprate VED rates for cars, vans and motorcycles in line with the Retail Price Index from 1st April 2020.”

Vehicle emissions will be calculated using the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) for the first time from 1st April, 2020. The WLTP service offers a more realistic reflection of overall emissions levels which is likely to reposition your vehicle into a higher tax band. 

Electric car tax – what’s the deal there?

Those with an all-electric car will receive further tax breaks which will remove all car tax charges for owners of zero-emissions vehicles (ZEVs) from 1st April. However, costs are set to rise for other vehicle owners as the government attempts to coerce drivers over to electric vehicles.

From 1 April an added charge paid by owners of expensive electric cars will be removed meaning there will be no car tax fees whatsoever for electric car owners. This final £320 charge was only paid if your vehicle was valued at over £50,000, but this has now been axed. 

The budget said: “From 1 April 2020, the government will exempt all ZEVs registered until 31 March 2025 from the VED ‘expensive car’ supplement. The measure will incentivise the uptake of ZEVs to support the phasing out of fossil-fuelled petrol and diesel vehicles.”

Company car tax has changed, too. What’s new? 

To further increase sales of fully-electric cars the government has decided to completely scrap benefit-in-kind rates for company cars with effect from 6th April, 2020. The updates mean car tax paid by business people through a salary sacrifice scheme will fall from 16 per cent to zero. 

These changes will see costs axed for popular EV’s such as the Tesla Model 3, Nissan Leaf and Renault ZOE, if they are purchased on finance deals. 

The elimination of benefit-in-kind tax is predicted to trigger an upsurge in company cars and boost electric vehicle sales in the UK. 

Does the electric plug-in grant still exist? 

The electric car plug-in grant remains but at a slightly lower price than from previous years and with a price cap introduced. Plug-in grants will now offer motorists just £3,000 (formerly £3,500) towards the price of a new fully-electric car and road users will be unable to claim the money if the car costs above £50,000.

However, the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has previously warned the grant would not be around forever as he urged motorists to snap up the deal.

If you’re unfamiliar with how car tax is calculated: the amount of tax you pay is based the vehicle’s CO2 emissions. Bigger and more powerful engines tend to produce higher levels of CO2, and so you pay more tax on them. That will all remain the same; what’s changing is how those CO2 emissions are measured.

Increases in measurements of the CO2 that cars emit are the result of changes to the official test. Instead of the previous unrealistic (and much-maligned) ‘New European Driving Cycle’ (NEDC) ratings, the more pragmatic ‘Worldwide-Harmonised Light vehicles Test Procedure’ (WLTP) has been adopted. Here are the reasons why the change…

* NEDC CO2 values: The NEDC test didn’t strain the engine while undergoing testing and was open to a number of potential loopholes, including: The test is conducted with air conditioning, lights and heated windows off, thereby improving efficiency and reducing CO2.

There is a tolerance for the testing to be carried out at 1.2mph below the required speed, meaning less fuel is used. Roof rails, extra lights and even the door mirror on the passenger side are allowed to be removed. This makes the car lighter and, therefore, more fuel-efficient. As the car was not strained, and manufacturers were known to have used these loopholes (and many more) to get better fuel economy, it meant that official CO2 values were kept artificially low.

As first year tax is based on official CO2 rates, it means we have technically been paying more favourable rates than we should have done.

* WLTP CO2 values: New generations of cars released after 1st September 2017 are now tested using the WLTP system. All remaining new cars have had to go through the WLTP as of 1st September 2018. The WLTP closed all the known loopholes with the NEDC and is a much tougher cycle. This means that fuel economy and CO2 figures from this test are higher and more realistic.

Despite this new test being introduced in 2018 for all cars, the CO2 figures you see in car brochures and dealerships – and which are used to set first-year tax rates – are the WLTP CO2 figures converted to NEDC figures. That means we’ve continued to pay tax rates based on lower-than-realistic CO2 measurements. But that has now come to an end.

As of today, 1st April 2020, CO2 values displayed in brochures and used to set first-year tax rates for new cars will be the direct WLTP results.

If you’re buying a used car – which could be anything from a month old to over 50 years old – what you pay depends on when the vehicle was first registered and which set of rules it falls into.

If your used car was registered after 1 April 2017: You will pay the ‘second-year’ rate as shown above – so £140 for petrol or diesel, £130 for alternatively-fuelled cars and £0 for fully-electric. The £320 supplement for cars that cost over £40,000 will apply every year until the car is six-years-old.

If your used car was registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017: Car tax will be calculated solely on the vehicle’s CO2 emissions. Petrol and diesel cars pay anything from £0 for up 100g/km, to £555 for over 255g/km, whereas alternatively-fuelled cars pay between £0 and £545. 

If your used car was registered before 1 March 2001: Car tax in this category is refreshingly simple; you pay £155 for 12 months if the vehicle’s engine is 1,549cc or smaller, and cars over 1,549cc pay £255. Your vehicle handbook will tell you the exact capacity of your engine.

Fourth-generation Kia Sorento will get hybrid and diesel power with a plug-in hybrid following later this year.

Full details have been made available of the engines, interior tech and chassis of the forthcoming 2020 KIA Sorento, with the Korean manufacturer confirming that the latest iteration of its range-topping SUV will go on sale in autumn of this year.

This fourth-generation Sorento will initially be available with petrol-hybrid and diesel engines, with a plug-in hybrid powertrain joining the line-up in late autumn.

A turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine and an electric motor producing a combined 227hp make up the Sorento’s hybrid powertrain, sending power to one or both axles via a six-speed automatic gearbox. A new turbocharged 2.2-litre diesel engine – which KIA says is 19.5kg lighter than its predecessor – produces 199hp and features an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

The Sorento can be ordered with four-wheel drive as an option and all models feature a new ‘Terrain Mode’ engineered to ensure the car can cope with light off-roading. Performance, fuel economy and emissions figures will be confirmed later nearer the car’s launch.

While full specs have yet to be confirmed for the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model that will join the line-up later in the year, it is likely to get a more powerful electric motor giving it an output of around 265hp. It will also get a larger battery pack, giving it an estimated pure-electric range of 35-40 miles.

The car’s design is significantly more chiselled than the previous model. The front gets a distinctive front grille, which is flanked by narrow LED headlights and LED daytime running lights and there are new LED rear lights too. Elsewhere, the bodywork has black cladding together with silver scuff guards on the lower front and rear bumpers.

Inside, the new Sorento features updated technology, including a new eight-inch infotainment screen powered by KIA’s UVO app interface and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, both of which are incorporated into one large trim piece. A larger 10.25-inch infotainment display is available on the options list. Wireless smartphone charging along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity are standard on either-sized infotainment systems.

The revised dashboard features vertical chrome air vents and a new circular ‘rotary’ style gear shifter, and soft-touch leather covers the upper dash level and is complemented by the use of quilted leather trim in seat inserts. Leather-clad furniture will also feature, along with ambient mood lighting in the dashboard and door panels, and dual-zone climate control.

Depending on specification, the new Sorento offers various safety features, including autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with both pedestrian and cyclist detection. Other safety kit includes blind-spot detection/avoidance, surround view monitoring and intelligent speed limit monitoring. This system also scans for oncoming traffic when you turn out of a junction.

KIA’s smart active cruise control also features, along with lane following assist, which can accelerate, brake and steer to keep the car in lane via a series of bodywork mounted cameras and radar sensors.

The 2020 Sorento sits on an entirely new platform and gains around 10mm in length. The biggest difference is the car’s wheelbase, which has increased by 35mm. Legroom is improved in each row and the rearmost seats benefit from extra headroom. Seven-seat models offer a huge 821 litres of boot space, and it’s likely that any five-seat models will be even more generous. The plug-in hybrid will also be available as a seven-seater.

European spec cars will be available in a choice of 10 paint colours, with alloy wheel options ranging from 17 to 20-inches in size, but exact UK specifications will only be confirmed prior to launch later in the year.

2020 Kia Sorento – UK engines and interior tech confirmed

The BMW Concept i4 previews the forthcoming 2021 BMW i4 and boasts a 523hp electric powertrain and a range of 373 miles.

BMW has taken the covers off the Concept i4, an all-electric coupe-style concept car with a range of 373 miles. It is effectively a preview of the ‘almost production-ready’ i4, BMW’s first four-door electric saloon scheduled to arrive in 2021.

The final production i4 model is likely to look very similar to this concept car, but the final design, price and specifications will be confirmed in due course but we already know that the i4 will slot in between the i8 supercar and the i3 hatchback in BMW’s electric model range.

The Concept i4 features the fifth-generation eDrive battery technology by BMW, with an 80kWh battery providing a claimed range of 373 miles. BMW says that the car’s battery features an ‘extremely slim’ design and weighs only 550kg. The car produces 523hp and is capable of 0-62mph in four seconds with a top speed of 124mph.

The Concept i4 shares its underpinnings with the forthcoming BMW 4 Series Coupe and features a number of styling tweaks hinting at its electric powertrain, including larger kidney grilles at the front, blanked-off air vents in the front bumper, narrow LED headlights and blue contrast detailing.

The interior features a large curved display housing the digital instrument cluster and infotainment screen. BMW has already confirmed that this setup will be used on the forthcoming electric iNEXT SUV as well as the i4.

As is the current norm, the touchscreen controls nearly all of the car’s functions, including the climate control, satnav and stereo. BMW’s iDrive rotary control dial is still present on the centre console, suggesting that owners will have the option to use physical controls if they prefer. BMW has also done away with a gear lever for the concept, replacing it with a toggle shifter. There’s also a start/stop button and drive mode buttons labelled ‘Efficient,’ ‘Core,’ and ‘Sport.’

The cabin features a four-seat layout, with seats trimmed in sustainably sourced materials, including microfibre and natural leather. Elsewhere, bronze detailing is dotted around the dashboard and door panels.

BMW: Sleek, near production-ready i4 revealed

Despite the cancellation of the 2020 Geneva Motor Show, car manufacturers have still been busy unveiling their latest creations and sharing them online. Read on for Driver Buddy’s round-up of the newest models from Aston Martin, BMW, Honda and more.

Virtual Geneva Motor Show Round-Up

The first stand-alone model from CUPRA is a four-wheel drive coupe-crossover. It is available with either a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine putting out 306bhp, or a plug-in hybrid powertrain producing 242bhp.

In a first for Morgan, the Plus Four is powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The old model’s steel ladder chassis has been replaced by the bonded aluminium platform first used on the Plus Six, but the new car retains the narrower body associated with four-cylinder Morgans.

The Octavia vRS iV is Skoda’s first plug-in hybrid performance car. With a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine and an 85kW electric motor providing 243lb ft of instant torque, the Octavia is capable of accelerating from 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds, yet also emits just 30g/km of CO2.

Priced from £24,900, the fourth generation Audi A3 will initially be available with turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol and 2.0-litre diesel engines, both producing 148bhp. Audi’s configurable digital instrument cluster, or ‘virtual cockpit,’ is fitted as standard, as is a 10.1-inch touchscreen display.

The face-lifted E-Class is available with a new 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine equipped with 48-volt ‘mild hybrid’ technology. An integrated starter-generator provides an additional 20bhp and 132lb ft of torque.

The Concept i4 gives an insight into the production version of the BMW i4 due to be launched in 2021. The four-door Gran Coupe produces 523bhp from its electric motor and has a range of 373 miles.

The new Honda Jazz will be offered in Europe solely with a hybrid powertrain, consisting of two electric motors and a 1.5-litre petrol engine. A new ‘Crosstar’ variant brings SUV styling to Honda’s B segment hatchback.

The Bacalar represents a return to coachbuilding for Bentley’s Mulliner division. The two-seat, open top ‘Barchetta’ uses sustainable materials in its construction, including a wraparound dashboard made from Riverwood that has been naturally preserved for over 5000 years.

As birthday presents go, a special edition of a 1874bhp electric hyper GT isn’t a bad one. Built to celebrate 90 years since Pininfarina was founded, the Anniverario has a new livery, more downforce and a higher 217mph top speed compared to the ‘regular’ Battista.

The UX 300e is Lexus’s first fully electric car. The compact SUV is expected to have a range of more than 186 miles when it goes on sale in January 2021.

It wouldn’t be a motor show, even a ‘virtual’ one, without a futuristic concept car with some unusual technology. As well as demonstrating Hyundai’s latest design language, the Prophecy is controlled with two joysticks located on the centre console and door trim.

Despite being developed in just over 12 months, the V12 Speedster has its own platform and a unique body that goes without a roof or windscreen. What it does borrow is the 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 engine from the DBS and DB11, here with an estimated 705bhp.

A large saloon with a 2.9 metre wheelbase, plug-in hybrid powertrains and an active suspension system that responds to the road ahead, the DS 9 is the French brand’s new flagship model. It offers up to 31 miles of all-electric range.

The latest version of the Chiron has been designed to optimise the car’s handling. With a 50kg weight reduction, increased downforce, closer gear ratios, revised suspension setup and grippier tyres, on a winding road or racetrack the Pur Sport is likely to be the fastest Chiron yet. 

The second generation of BAC’s single-seater road car features a turbocharged engine for the first time. Producing 332bhp in a car that weighs just 570kg, this gives the Mono a power to weight ratio of 582bhp-per-tonne. 

For more coverage from the ‘Virtual’ Geneva Motor Show, check out our article the ‘Virtual’ Geneva Motor Show big reveals, featuring new cars from the likes of Alfa Romeo, McLaren and Porsche.

Audi has revealed two ‘drive concept’ cars that could essentially be more powerful versions of its E-Tron and E-Tron Sportback in the form of sportier and more performance-oriented ‘S’ models.

The regular E-Tron’s two-motor setup has been increased to three, with one powerful motor located on the front axle helped by two additional motors at the rear. Combined, they produce 496hp and 973Nm of torque when at full boost during eight-second periods when the driver pushes the accelerator past a certain point. During normal driving, the combined output of the motors is 429hp and 808Nm.

The S models are able to access 91% of on-board battery power, compared with 88% on the standard car. Though Audi hasn’t released official figures on battery mileage range, it’s likely that the added weight of the additional motor will have a slight effect on how far each of the cars can go on a single charge. The regular E-Tron offers a range of between 209 and 280 miles, depending on model.

The electric S models can be charged with up to 150kW of DC power, which translates to a charge time of just half an hour from five to 80%. Facilitating such a rapid charge rate is a thermal management system with a standard heat pump, which cools and heats the battery, the interior and the electric motors with four circuits. In addition, the Audi models will also be able to charge with up to 11kW of AC current.

The two E-Tron S models also benefit from retuned steering, a stiffer suspension setup with firmer bushings and wider tyres for enhanced grip and agility over the regular E-Tron models.

They also receive brake-based torque vectoring technology and larger six-pot brake calipers. The discs themselves have also been beefed-up to give better performance. Regenerative braking systems are incorporated too, capable of capturing up to 270kW of energy in a regeneration-only stop from 62mph.

Though Audi is calling these new cars ‘drive concepts’, there is a strong likelihood that they will enter production. However, no official release date for the cars has yet been forthcoming.

AUDI reveals S version ‘drive concepts’ of its E-Tron and E-Tron Sportback

The cancellation of this year’s Geneva Motor Show following the coronavirus outbreak has given rise to a new phenomenon – the ‘virtual’ motor show.

The cancellation of this year’s Geneva Motor Show following the coronavirus outbreak has given rise to a new phenomenon – the ‘virtual’ motor show. Rather than unveiling their latest models on a stand full of journalists, manufacturers streamed their own ‘digital’ press conferences to show off their new products. From this flurry of launches, Driver Buddy brings you ten of the big reveals… 

Alfa Romeo’s Giulia saloon was a long-awaited return to form for the Italian brand, so the prospect of a lighter, more powerful version is mouth-watering indeed. The Giulia GTA gets a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 that produces 533bhp, an increase of 30bhp over the Giulia Quadrifoglio, while a 100kg weight reduction has trimmed the GTA’s total mass to 1520kg. A stripped out GTAm version, with a roll bar replacing the rear seats and more extreme aerodynamics, is also available.

The Spring Electric Concept previews what Dacia claims will be “Europe’s most affordable all-electric vehicle.” The production version will have a range of over 124 miles when it is launched in the first half of 2021. Not only will it be Dacia’s first electric car, it will also be the first city car in the Dacia range.

For hot hatch fans, the eighth generation Golf GTI was the big news from VW’s press conference. The new model is powered by a 242bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed manual gearbox or an optional seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Design highlights include an illuminated radiator grille and fog lights integrated into the honeycomb air intake. Also joining the Golf line-up are the hybrid GTE (with an identical power output to the GTI) and the diesel-powered GTD.

Traditionally, a new Golf GTI would be one of VW’s most important model launches. But given current market trends, arguably the company’s biggest announcement was that it will be launching its first electric SUV later this year. Called the ID.4, it is based on the same MEB platform as the electric ID.3 hatchback, and has a claimed range of up to 310 miles.

Extra power probably isn’t something the McLaren 720S needed, but that’s what this new ‘Longtail’ version gets. Its 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 now produces 755bhp and 590lb ft of torque, propelling the 765LT from 0-62mph in 2.8 seconds and 0-124mph in 7.2 seconds. It should make quite a noise, too, thanks to a quad-exit titanium exhaust system that contributes to an overall weight saving of 80kg. Despite these impressive numbers, McLaren’s chief test driver Kenny Brack claims the 765LT is “not all about performance,” with linear and predictable dynamics helping to create a “natural and seamless” feel to the way it drives.

The Porsche 911 Turbo S is known for its blend of performance and usability, and the latest 992 generation looks set to continue that trend. Available as a Coupe and Cabriolet, it has a 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat six generating 641bhp. With an eight speed PDK gearbox and all-wheel drive, the Turbo S should have no problem making the most of that power, as demonstrated by its 0-62mph time of 2.7 seconds.

Koenigsegg claims to have created the world’s first “Mega-GT” with its latest creation, the Gemera. It’s a genuine four-seater with – wait for it – 1700bhp and 2581lb ft of torque. Generating those enormous figures is a hybrid powertrain comprising a 2.0-litre twin-turbo three-cylinder engine and three electric motors. Yet the Gemera is also practical, with a range of 621 miles (including 31 miles on electric power alone) and space for four full-size carry-on suitcases. Not only that, the Gemera’s environmental credentials can match those of a full EV – when running on the right renewable fuel, it’s capable of being CO2 neutral.

According to Christian von Koenigsegg, founder of the company which bears his name, the Jesko Absolut is “the fastest Koenigsegg we will ever endeavour to make.” The company currently holds the official record for the fastest production car of all time with the Agera RS, which achieved an average speed of 277.9mph. Koenigsegg has not revealed exactly how fast he thinks the Jesko Absolut could go, only saying the car has the potential to reach “unheard-of speed in record-setting pace.”

Fiat Chrysler Automobile’s (FCA) first electric car is the third generation Fiat 500. Sold exclusively with electric propulsion, the new 500 has a range of 199 miles. Using an 85kW fast charger, the batteries can be replenished to 80% capacity in 35 minutes. The Fiat 500 is also the first car from FCA to feature the group’s new connected infotainment system, which Fiat brand President Olivier Francois says is “iPhone fast.”

AIWAYS will be the first Chinese brand to bring an electric vehicle to Europe when sales of its U5 SUV start in August. However, the company’s operating model is perhaps just as interesting as the car itself. They plan to adopt an online, direct-to-consumer approach for sales, and will establish a network of partners to take care of test drives, servicing and other customer-facing activities.

'Virtual' Geneva Motor Show - The Big Reveals

The high-performance compact SUV has been revealed online and is expected to go on sale in the UK in April with a price tag in the region of £53,000.

The 2020 Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 S 4Matic+ that was due to be revealed at the cancelled Geneva Motor Show this week, has been revealed online instead. It goes on sale in the UK in April and first deliveries for the high-performance compact SUV are expected in summer with a price tag in the region of £53,000.

Delivering 415hp on full whack from its 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, the GLA 45 S will be one of the fastest SUVs ever built. Aided by its sophisticated 4Matic+ all-wheel-drive system, it can reach 62mph from a dead start in just 4.3 seconds, topping out to an electronically limited 168mph – which should be scary enough for most drivers.

A lesser-powered 387hp Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 will be available in other countries, but not in the UK.

The engine in the GLA 45 S is currently the world's most powerful 2.0-litre and is also wedged into the Mercedes-AMG A45 S hatchback. An eight-speed automatic gearbox is fitted as standard. Interestingly, the engine has been turned around by 180-degrees, so the twin-scroll turbocharger is now at the back and the air intake towards the nose, improving efficiency and allowing for a lower-profiled bonnet. 'Two-stage' fuel injectors have been fitted to keep up with the engine's inevitable thirst for fuel in the higher rev range.

In addition to the omnipotent powerplant, the suspension, brakes and steering have also gone under AMG's knife. An adaptive suspension system dubbed ‘AMG Ride Control’ will be fitted with three settings aimed at comfort and fast driving. Six-piston front brakes should provide more stopping power and can be easily spotted thanks to red painted callipers and black AMG lettering, while the steering has settings for relaxed and ‘enthusiastic’ driving.

Using the infotainment screen, drivers will also be able to switch between different settings for the ESP system for the first time. Labelled 'Basic', 'Advanced', 'Pro' and 'Master', the extra layer of customisation will range from preventing skids in the Basic mode, to allowing some oversteer in Master, which is best left for track use.

Exterior changes include bloated wheel arches, 19-inch AMG alloy wheels, LED headlights and a motorsport-style rear bumper diffuser, while a large rear wing will be optional. Inside there's a Nappa leather sports steering wheel and sports seats with contrasting yellow stitching.

2020 Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 S 4Matic+ The world’s most powerful T2.0-litre!

Jaguar Land Rover, which recently unveiled Project Vector as part of the company’s Destination Zero initiative, offering its vision of an autonomous, electric and connected future for urban
mobility.

Jaguar Land Rover reveals its electric urban mobility concept – and plans pilot for 2021

Shared transport services are expected to play a key role in mobility within large congested cities. Several automakers are preparing for this scenario and have started studying specific cars.

One such automaker is Jaguar Land Rover, which recently unveiled Project Vector as part of the company’s Destination Zero initiative, offering its vision of an autonomous, electric and connected future for urban mobility.

JLR’s Destination Zero mission is an ambition to develop safer and healthier societies and make the environment cleaner. Delivered through continuous innovation, the company’s focus is to achieve a future of zero emissions, zero accidents, and zero congestion, through its products and services in all its facilities.

The Project Vector prototype shows an advanced, versatile, and multi-purpose electric vehicle designed to offer maximum space and comfort for passengers. The sliding doors facilitate easy boarding and the cabin is quite spacious thanks to the vehicle’s boxy profile.

The compact and flexible prototype shown in the images measures only four meters in length and is designed for the city, with all its battery and transmission components located under the floor. The interior space of the cabin allows seat configurations for private or shared use and even the option of commercial uses, such as urban deliveries.

As evidenced by the presence of the steering wheel, there is no autonomous driving initially, but JLR has prepared the Project Vector vehicle to accommodate sensors and cameras as soon as it is ready. The concept has been developed at the National Automotive Innovation Centre in Coventry.

While initially a development concept, Project Vector was never meant to stay on paper. The company says it will work together with the Coventry City Council and the West Midlands Combined Authority to deploy a pilot mobility service using the Vector, commencing as early as late 2021, which it says will act as a ‘living laboratory for future mobility on the streets of Coventry’.

Cooperation between E.ON and Volkswagen Group Components contributes to establishing an ultra-fast charging infrastructure.

E.ON and VW co-develop new solution for ultra-fast charging EVs

The provision of an expansive public network of ultra-fast EV charging stations can be attained quicker than previously thought possible. E.ON and Volkswagen Group Components (VGC) are giving the realisation new impetus with the prototype of a new, flexible ultra-fast charging station that will be presented and trialled in Essen, western Germany.

By integrating a battery system, it will be possible to install ultra-fast charging stations almost anywhere and at significantly lower cost without civil engineering or mains connection.

According to E.ON and VGC, the new technology paves the way for a larger number of ultra-fast charging points to be installed where they are needed. E.ON is seeing demand for this solution from municipal utilities and local authorities as well as from filling stations and service areas. In addition, the concept is tailored to the electrification of retail parking lots and logistics companies such as parcel services.

The stations are installed according to the plug & play principle – simply put them down, connect them and configure them online. The quick charging system can charge two e-cars with up to 150 kilowatts of power at the same time, thus providing an additional range of around 120 miles on average in just 15 minutes.

To ensure that the battery installed in the charging station always has sufficient capacity, it is permanently fed by a conventional 16 to 63 ampere power connection. E.ON will operate the rapid chargers exclusively with green electricity. Updates, remote maintenance and billing of the charging points will be carried out via E.ON's central software platform. The technology meets all the requirements for financial support under both the EU and the German directive and complies with the requirements of calibration law.

The business model was developed jointly by E.ON and VGC. The hardware component is an innovation of the automotive company combined with E.ON's proven operator system and market knowledge. VGC will start series production this year.

In the second half of the year, E.ON will intensively test the new charging points at six motorway filling stations and then launch them on the German market under the name E.ON Drive Booster.

Camouflaged quattro versions of new Audi compact hatchback tackle a course also used for the Azores rally to demonstrate latest quattro technology.

Audi has been testing camouflaged versions of the incoming fourth-generation A3 hatchback, demonstrating the latest quattro system as well as other technological advancements.

Tackling roads which snake around the island of Sao Miguel in Portugal’s Azores archipelago, the new quattro all-wheel drive is said to maximize stability, grip and driving pleasure as well as efficiency. With support from the adaptive suspension and the progressive steering, this helps the car offer “composed, surefooted and incisive driving characteristics,” says Audi.

Audi’s engineers have tailored the electronic torque distribution control specifically to suit the new A3. During normal driving, the majority of that power is sent to the front axles, but when reduced traction is detected, up to 100% of drive torque may be transmitted to the rear.

Electronic Stabilization Control (ESC) further improves the driving characteristics of the sporty hatch. When the car enters a corner at high speed, the program applies the brakes slightly to the two wheels on the inside, allowing it to turn into the bend and follow the steering angle. This makes the handling even more agile, fluid, and safe.

This feature can be manually adjusted via three settings: ESC On (safe and stable acceleration), Sport (allows drifting in a controlled, safe manner) and ESC Off (the amount of wheel slip is unlimited).

This new quattro system will be optional on some variants of the 2020 A3 and will come as standard on future performance models such as the S3 and RS3 hot hatch.

The all-new Audi A3 is expected to be one of the star premieres at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show next month.

All-New 2020 Audi A3 Goes Quattro Testing in the Azores

UK pricing and specifications for the new Fiat 500 mild hybrid and Panda mild hybrid have been announced, arriving in UK showrooms mid-February and March, respectively.

The ubiquitous Fiat 500 and the diminutive Panda are two iconic models in the current Fiat product range. They represent and perhaps, even define urban mobility with combined annual sales of over 400,000 units throughout the EU and the UK.

With the introduction of mild hybrid technology, the 500 and the Panda provide all the benefits of efficient, compact, lightweight and accessible hybrid driving.

Fiat has confirmed that the new Fiat 500 mild hybrid and Fiat Panda mild hybrid will start from £12,655 and £13,855 respectively.

Both models mark the electrification of the brand and are the first steps towards more sustainable urban driving. That journey continues later in 2020 when production commences of the new 500e in its spiritual home of Turin. Being fully electric, the model will play a key role in the FCA e-Mobility strategy. The new 500e is expected to debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month.

Both models will be available with a new petrol mild hybrid drivetrain that combines the latest 3-cylinder FireFly 1.0-litre engine with a 12-volt belt-integrated starter-generator (BSG) electric motor and a lithium battery. Combined output is 70hp.

Compared to the outgoing 1.2-litre 69hp petrol engine, the mild hybrid version improves fuel efficiency, reducing CO2 emissions by up to 30 per cent without impeding performance. The 500 mild hybrid has CO2 emissions as low as 88g/km with the Panda at 89g/km. Fuel economy for the 500 is said to be 53.3mpg, while the Panda returns 49.6mpg (both WLTP Combined).

The BSG system also ensures a very high standard of driving comfort, allowing for a quiet, vibration-free restart of the internal combustion engine in Stop-Start mode. The system is mounted directly on the engine and is operated by the belt that also drives the auxiliaries.

The mild hybrid drivetrain is paired with a six-speed manual gearbox sending drive to the front wheels only. It is said to improve fuel economy during out-of-town driving, thanks to new low-friction bearings and gaskets and the use of a specific high-efficiency lubricant. The new system also involves lowering the entire power unit by 45mm so the car behaves better on the road thanks to the lower centre of gravity.

Special Fiat 500 Mild Hybrid and Panda Mild Hybrid launch editions

When they arrive in showrooms, the mild-hybrid 500 and Panda models will be available in a Launch Edition trim. These models will be presented in model-exclusive ‘Dew Green’ paint, with seats trimmed in a fabric manufactured from recycled plastic waste.

The Launch Edition models start from £16,795 for the 500 and £14,385 for the Panda. Each mild hybrid Launch Edition will be recognised by a rear-mounted ‘Hybrid’ badge and an exclusive ‘H’ logo (formed by two dew drops) mounted at the base of the B-pillar.

Fiat 500 and Panda Mild-Hybrids Now Available

More details have been released on the highly-anticipated Mercedes-Benz eVito, which offers 112hp of power, 300Nm of torque, a 92-mile average range and a six-hour charging time.

The front-wheel drive eVito has joined the current Vito range and offers a standard specification that mirrors the ‘Pure’ model line of the regular Vito, including a height and rake adjustable steering wheel, hill start assist, electrically adjustable heated exterior mirrors, sliding doors on both sides of the vehicle, wood flooring and an adaptive brake light.

In addition to the Pure specification, the eVito exclusively offers Mercedes ProConnect, heated driver’s seat, air conditioning, a charging cable and a CanTrack vehicle tracker, all as standard too. A sound generator produces an audible signal at speeds up to 20mph, which means the silent eVito can be detected by pedestrians, cyclists and other road users at low speed.

Available in two lengths and priced from £39,895 (ex VAT) for the eVito Pure L2 and £40,415 (ex VAT) for the eVito Pure L3, the van is also eligible for the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) Grant. This means that customers can benefit from a 20% reduction on the vehicle purchase price, up to a maximum of £8,000.

The L2 model offers 6.0m3 of cargo volume, a kerb weight of 2,277kg, a GVW of 3,200kg and a payload of 923kg. The longer L3 offers 6.6m3 cargo volume, a 2,302kg kerb weight, a 3,200kg GVW and a payload of 898kg.

In addition to the Pure trim grade, the eVito Progressive will also be available and includes the following additions; colour coded bumpers, full wheel covers, front fog lights, headlight assist, 75mph speed limiter, Audio 15, lumbar support and electrically foldable mirrors – all as standard. The eVito Progressive L2 will be available from £41,600 (ex VAT) and £42,120 (ex VAT) for the longer L3 variant.

For both specification levels, Mercedes ProConnect comes as standard and is subscription-free for the first three years, with benefits including remote access, digital driver’s log, drive style monitoring, real-time variable servicing monitoring, parking time monitor and geo-fence options. In addition for the eVito, the vehicle benefits from pre-conditioning of the heaters and highlights vehicle charging options nearby.

The capacity of the underfloor battery is 41kWh and can be charged from 0 to 100% in approximately 6 hours, via a wall-box or at a charging station using the appropriate cable.

Thanks to the spiral shape of the four-metre charging cable provided, it is easy to handle when distances are different between the vehicle and a wall-box or charging station. The cable comes with a handy zipped bag to store it between uses.

In addition to the three driving modes on the new eVito, there are four energy-recovery levels to optimise the power consumption.

Mercedes-Benz Vans UK is committed to offering battery electric vehicles (BEVs) alongside conventional fuel types across the entire product range, starting with the eVito and continuing with the all-electric eSprinter panel van later in 2020.

New Mercedes-Benz eVito: Specs, Techs and Pricing

The UK EV market grew by 21% in 2019 with more than 72,000 new plug-in cars registered in the UK – that’s one registered every seven minutes.

Plug-ins on the rampage as one is sold every seven minutes

UK electric car registrations continue to set records, as latest figures place the total number of new 100% electric and plug-in hybrid cars registered last year at 72,834, making 2019 the most successful year for electric cars to date. That equates to one new electric car registration every seven minutes in the UK. The total also means the market grew by 21% compared to 2018.

The end-of-year figure marks a continued trend, which saw consumers and businesses switch to ultra-low emission vehicles. The fourth quarter of 2019 saw a further 24,722 plug-in cars registered between October and December.

For the first time, fully electric cars accounted for more than half of the plug-in market, with 52% of sales. This takes the number of 100% electric and plug-in hybrid cars registered in the UK to date to 271,524.

From a regional perspective, the South East saw the highest demand across the nation, with 26,136 vehicles registered – a 22% increase on 2018. Other leading regions include the West Midlands (11,623), South West (8,128), Yorkshire and the Humber (7,566) and East Anglia (5,373), making up the top five British regions for electric car uptake this year.

2019 marked the eighth consecutive year of growth for the electric car market. This has in part been driven by an increase in the models available, with over 50 for consumers and businesses to choose from.

2020 has the potential to be another strong year for registrations as a host of models are set to be introduced, including the Peugeot e-208, Volkswagen ID.3, Mercedes-Benz EQC, Vauxhall Corsa-e, Skoda Citigo E, and MINI Electric just some of the new cars due to hit the roads.

The continued growth of the EV market has also been accompanied by new charge points being installed in response to the increased demand. There are now over 29,000 public charging connectors in the UK, making it one of Europe’s largest charging networks.

These numbers are set to rise thanks to continued Government funding and investment from the private sector. In September, the Government committed a further £35 million worth of investment into the UK’s rapid charge network, which combined with a matching £35 million from the private sector, will result in the delivery of a further 3,000 rapid chargers by 2024.

Electric or Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle Sold Every Seven Minutes

2019 was a fantastic year for car safety, and Euro NCAP has highlighted the Best of the Best in class for 2019

Safest cars revealed by Euro NCAP - Best of the Best in class 2019

Each year, Euro NCAP publishes a list of those cars that have performed best in their respective categories during the past 12 months.  	 
Euro NCAP last week published its annual Best in Class for 2019. Fifty-five cars were assessed, of which forty-one achieved the top accolade of a full five stars, which makes 2019 one of the most impressive years on record since Euro NCAP started to evaluate consumer safety of cars on the European market.

Mercedes-Benz regained its crown in the best performing Small Family Car category – this time with the CLA – a sporty alternative to the A-Class Sedan, which won last year’s Best in Class. The CLA achieved a score of more than 90% in three of the four areas of safety and delivered the best overall rating of the year. Mercedes-Benz went on to launch five more five-star vehicles in 2019, all with outstanding crash protection and driver assistance technology.

Tesla also made a strong appearance during 2019 with its Model X declared the winner in the Large Off-Road category, followed by the SEAT Tarraco in second place. The Tesla Model 3 topped the Electric and Hybrid vehicle class and, together with BMW’s 3 Series, shares top spot in the ‘Large Family’ category. The two cars concluded their respective tests with identical overall scores, with the BMW scoring better in pedestrian protection, and the Tesla edging it in Safety Assist. Skoda’s new Octavia was the runner-up in this category.

In the combined Small Off-road/Small MPV class, Subaru won with the new Forester, with excellent all-round performance during testing. Mazda’s new CX-30 and Volkswagen’s T-Cross were close followers in the category. Despite missing out on the top spot, Mazda had a good year, with the new Mazda 3 turning in a creditable performance in adult occupant protection and pipped to second place by the Mercedes-Benz CLA in the ‘Small Family Car’ category.

There was a tie in the Supermini class with the sporty Audi A1 and top-selling Renault Clio, both of which have been among Europe’s most popular and desirable hatchbacks for years. Their latest generations arrived in 2019 and fared equally well in testing. Newcomer Ford Puma was the runner-up in the category. The Supermini segment continues to be the most competitive in the market and the winners deserve credit for their uncompromising stance on safety.

Finally, a special mention went to BMW’s Z4, the only roadster tested in 2019, but set a new safety benchmark for the segment.

Best Large Family Car Hybrid and Electric: Tesla Model 3

Read our exclusive review of the Tesla Model 3!

Best Small Off-Road / MPV: Subaru Forester

The Sony Vision-S concept car has been unveiled at CES to showcase the firm’s latest vehicle safety and infotainment innovations.

SONY stuns with all-electric car at CES Las Vegas

If you thought that SONY was just going to announce the new PlayStation 5 at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas…you’d be right, along with millions of others.

What no-one expected was SONY’s reveal of its concept Vision S prototype car, built to showcase what SONY can do for the cars of tomorrow. 

The electronics brand has dipped its toes in everything from cameras to 8K televisions and everything in between, so it actually isn’t all that surprising that they would decide to use CES to jump into the auto industry.

Looking remarkably similar to the Tesla Model 3 with hints of Porsche in the front, the four-door Vision S rolled silently onto the stage. The Vision S packs 33 sensors, including radar, LiDAR and cameras, but SONY says its real innovation is infusing the data collected from all those things to produce cleaner data with fewer errors.

Although it’s not widely known, SONY isn’t entirely new to this game: Its CMOS sensors, like those used in its cameras, are already used in vehicles like the Toyota Corolla and Lexus NX.

SONY’s foray into LiDAR — the ‘eyes’ of an autonomous car that allow it to sense how far it is from obstacles around it – comes as a bigger surprise. The race to build cheaper, more reliable LiDAR has become one of the hottest contests in automotive technology and SONY will face upstarts like Quanergy and LeddarTech, along with established players like Velodyne and Bosch.

Inside, the Vision S looks like what you would expect from a company that built its reputation on televisions, with a massive panoramic dash screen that stretches below the entire windshield. The rear seats both have screens of their own and SONY says the car provides a 360-degree panoramic audio experience.

“We believe that the evolution of mobility will also redefine cars as a new entertainment space,” said Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida.

The EV chassis the car rides on was built by Magna Steyr, a Canadian manufacturer that also supplies GM, Ford, Mercedes and yes, Tesla. Not surprisingly, SONY had help from a number of other partners, including Qualcomm, Continental, and Nvidia.

Few technical details of the prototype were made available at the reveal, but we know it’s powered by a pair of 268hp electric motors (one per axle), which give it a 0-62mph time of 4.8 seconds and a top speed of 149mph.

SONY will show the Vision S concept at its CES 2020 booth, but don’t expect SONY dealerships to spring up anytime soon – it’s merely a demonstration to get other automakers interested in Sony’s automotive-related technologies.

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News

2020 road tax changes for cars, vans and motorcycles

2020 Kia Sorento – UK engines and interior tech confirmed

BMW: Sleek, near production-ready i4 revealed

Virtual Geneva Motor Show Round-Up

AUDI reveals S version ‘drive concepts’ of its E-Tron and E-Tron Sportback

'Virtual' Geneva Motor Show - The Big Reveals

2020 Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 S 4Matic+ The world’s most powerful T2.0-litre!

Jaguar Land Rover reveals its electric urban mobility concept – and plans pilot for 2021

E.ON and VW co-develop new solution for ultra-fast charging EVs

All-New 2020 Audi A3 Goes Quattro Testing in the Azores

Fiat 500 and Panda Mild-Hybrids Now Available

New Mercedes-Benz eVito: Specs, Techs and Pricing

Electric or Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle Sold Every Seven Minutes

Safest cars revealed by Euro NCAP - Best of the Best in class 2019

Sony Vision-S All-Electric Concept Car

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