Autosport International Show for 2012

Birmingham NEC Auto Show 2012

Birmingham NEC Auto Show 2012

Autosport International is offering companies the opportunity to become further involved in a £4.6 billion industry*, when Europe’s largest motorsport trade exhibition opens its doors at the Birmingham NEC, UK, on 12-15 January 2012.

Attracting a trade audience of almost 30,000 people from more than 50 countries, Autosport International provides established and prospective businesses invaluable networking opportunities within the motorsport industry, and a platform to showcase technical and engineering innovation. Autosport International also celebrates the cross-over of technology to other sectors, including marine, aerospace and military divisions. [Read more…]

Franco-German Mia for Future Car Challenge

Franco-German Mia Electric Vehicles To Debut At RAC Future Car Challenge.

Following the world and UK debuts of several cars which took part in last year’s highly successful RAC Future Car Challenge, the 2011 event on Saturday 5 November promises to unveil many more new vehicles to the public.

Fast growing Franco-German e-car company, Mia, has confirmed it will enter a ‘mia L’ in the RAC Future Car Challengeto coincide with the launch of its three-model range in the UK. The Mia electric parent company, Mia electric GmbH, has registered offices in Germany while vehicle production facilities are in Cerizay, western France. [Read more…]

68 Cars Registered For E-type Challenge

Jaguar E-type Challenge

Jaguar E-type Challenge

The new E-type Challenge, conceived to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Jaguar E-type, has received massive support with 68 cars now registered for the series, more than six weeks ahead of the opening race at Brands Hatch on 2/3 July. [Read more…]

Rallyfest Roars Into Builth Wells

Rallyfest Builth Wells

Rallyfest Builth Wells

After last October’s inaugural Rallyfest extravaganza in Llandudno, Wales Rally GB will be continuing its promotional tour programme in 2011, starting with an equally exciting event at the Builth Wells-based Royal Welsh Showground on the 4th June. Access to spectators for this fun-filled, family-friendly event will be completely free.

The 2011 Rallyfest will be run in conjunction with the Severn Valley National Rally, which is also based at the showground over the same weekend. Rallyfest will bring World Championship and British-based rally crews to mid-Wales for a day of action and celebration that will highlight the extended four day itinerary of 2011’s Wales Rally GB, which runs from 10-13 November.

Rallyfest is visiting mid-Wales in the summer so motorsport fans, both old and new, can get a taster of this year’s Wales Rally GB ahead of the potential title showdown of the FIA World Rally Championship in November. A dedicated course is planned for Rallyfest to show off the spectacular rally cars and teams, with the top finishing crews from the Severn Valley National Rally also being invited to take part.

As well as the cars, there will be a wealth of entertainment for the whole family, including live music, local food and drink, face-painting and competitions to win tickets to this year’s Wales Rally GB.

Last year’s Rallyfest attracted thousands of people to Llandudno and Conwy over the course of two days of action and static displays, creating an unprecedented ‘buzz’ for World Championship level rallying in the area. A similar number are hoped to attend the Builth Wells event this June. Andrew Coe, chief executive of IMS which organises Wales Rally GB, is thrilled with the way the Rallyfest initiative has been embraced by motorsport fans:

“With the support of the Severn Valley National Rally, Powys Council and the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, we will be laying on a mouthwatering display of contemporary and historic rally cars, representing both the past and present of Rally GB.

“The showground in Builth Wells has played an important role in the history of the rally and we’re delighted that we are able to hold this summer’s Rallyfest at the showground.”

This year’s Wales Rally GB will be run over four days and will start with an opening test on the Great Orme, taking in much of Wales, before finishing in Cardiff on Sunday 13th November.

Fuel Set To Overtake Depreciation

Fuel could become the highest pence per mile cost of running a company car in less than five years, says CFC Solutions.

Fuel Prices Rise

Fuel Prices Rise

The fleet software industry market leader points out that petrol and diesel prices have risen by roughly 50% in the last five years and there is every reason to expect that they will increase by the same amount before 2016.

Currently, depreciation is the most expensive cost for a typical 2.0 litre upper medium petrol company car at around 25 pence per mile with fuel costs around 16 pence. Depreciation is unlikely to change substantially within the next five years, says CFC, so it is very likely to be overtaken by fuel costs.

Neville Briggs, managing director at CFC Solutions, explained: “Depreciation has been by far the highest cost in company cars since anyone seriously started measuring whole life costs on a pence per mile basis in the 1970s.

“Being overtaken by fuel would represent a complete change in fleet economics and could cause a paradigm shift in fleet management thinking.”

Briggs added that continuing increases in the cost of petrol and diesel could mean a change in priorities when it came to management priorities.

He said: “There could be a number of effects. Firstly, there could be an increased accent on reduced fuel use through active journey management including car sharing, and on improved driving techniques.

“Secondly, there could be a much higher than anticipated degree of take up for the new wave of alternative fuel vehicles, such as EVs. They have a completely different cost profile compared to a conventional vehicle with a higher upfront cost but the pence per mile fuel costs are much reduced.

“Also, the continued political pressures felt in the Middle East could shorten this cycle by an amount which is nearly impossible to predict. Those able to reduce fuel use within their business operations should do so as soon as possible and consider additional fleet investment to lessen the impact.”

New Range Of Tyre Gauges

Save Money At The Pumps With Ring Automotive’s New Range Of Tyre Gauges

New Range Of Tyre Gauges

New Range Of Tyre Gauges

Fuel prices have made motoring expensive.
One way to save money when motoring is to ensure vehicle tyres are correctly inflated. New tyre gauges from Ring Automotive help motorists ensure they have the correct tyre pressure and so save money at the pumps.

In the current economic climate saving money and reducing unnecessary costs is on everyone’s minds. However, the cost of filling up your car has continued to increase. Motorists now face petrol prices well over £1.20 per litre.

Ring Automotive the leading car accessory company is advising drivers to check their tyres correctly to make significant savings to their fuel bills.

Under inflated tyres can result in the engine having to use more fuel to maintain the same performances as a correctly inflated tyre, due to increased drag and rolling resistance. Correct tyre pressures help to maintain optimum fuel efficiency, reducing Co2 emissions, which is good for the environment and your wallet.

As well as increasing fuel consumption, under inflated tyres can cause rapid tyre wear resulting in costly new tyres. The legal limit for the minimum depth of tread on tyres is 1.6mm across 75% of the tyre.

Tyre pressure should be checked regularly and when tyres are cold, driving to a fuel station first can give an inaccurate reading due to an increase in the pressure when the tyres become warm.

Ring Automotive has launched a new range of digital tyre gauges to help motorists to accurately check their tyre pressure and tread depth at their convenience, before beginning a journey.

The 4 digital gauges have been uniquely designed by Ring Automotive and complement the award winning compressor range launched in 2009.

RTG4 – is a digital tyre keyring gauge with an easy to read digital display, blue back light and LED directional light for easy location of tyre valve.
RTG5 – is a digital tyre gauge with an easy to read digital display, blue back light, LED directional light and 360⁰ nozzle.
RTG6 – is a digital tyre gauge with an easy to read digital display with blue back light, LED directional light, 360⁰ nozzle and tread depth gauge.
RTG7 – is a programmable digital tyre which stores and programmes front and rear tyre pressure with a die cast housing, easy to read digital display, blue back light, LED directional light, 360⁰ nozzle and tread depth gauge.

The unique 360° rotating nozzle enables the screen to be viewed in the reading position and ensures easy connection to the tyre valve whatever the position.

Motorists should check their tyre pressure and tread depth to save fuel and maximise the life of tyres. The Ring Tyre Gauges are an invaluable accessory to keep in the car.

World’s First Carwalk

World’s First Carwalk – London Traffic Comes To Standstill As Models Mount Motors

Vauxhall Fashion

Vauxhall Fashion

Vauxhall Fashion Scout is an independent fashion showcase at London Fashion Week which gives lesser known designers the chance to have their own catwalk show, presentation or exhibition over the six days of London Fashion Week. Vauxhall Fashion Scout will be showcasing the latest in fashion innovation in Freemasons Hall, London between 18th and 23rd February during London Fashion Week. For more information, images, show schedules and interview requests please contact the Vauxhall Fashion Scout press office at Mischief PR or visit vauxhallfashionscout.co.uk

Vauxhall’s new Corsa, sporting its fresh new face, trims and colours is in showrooms now. The Corsa is Vauxhall’s second best-selling model after the Astra, and a near-permanent fixture in the UK’s top-three best sellers’ list. The new Corsa features a signature chrome bar, carrying the new Griffin badge, stretching across the front grille, while a re-styled front bumper with a more prominent, wider lower grille gives the Corsa a ‘smiling’ appearance. There are five new exterior colours in the range. Lime Green pearlescent, Chilli Orange metallic, Guacamole. Sunny Melon and Pepperdust metallic.

Introducing The Longest Taxi Ride Ever

Departing on February 17th 2011 from the London’s Transport Museum in Covent Garden. Made possible by Performance Direct Insurance’s Non Standard Awards scheme, ‘It’s on the Meter’ is an attempt to break the World Record for the longest ever taxi journey.

London Black Cab

London Black Cab

‘It’s on the Meter’ will see a classic London Black Cab driven from London to Sydney, Australia, aiming to raise the cost of the £20,345 fare for the British Red Cross. Covering over 30,000 miles, the trip will take in 37 countries and take over eight months.

Starting out as a hair brained scheme dreamed up during a long (and expensive) taxi journey home, the ‘It’s on the Meter’ team of three friends, Leigh Purnell, Johno Ellison and Paul Archer have been planning the trip for three years.

Crossing Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, China, South Asia and Australia, the three will cross 36 borders and 10 time zones, battling freezing temperatures in the Arctic and searing heat in the Sahara. [Read more…]

Successful Test For The Audi R18

Audi R18

Audi R18

Ingolstadt, January 31 – Four and a half months before the Le Mans 24 Hours, preparations for the endurance classic are in full swing at Audi. Two new Audi R18 cars and one Audi R15 TDI were used in tests at Sebring (U.S. state of Florida). [Read more…]

Provincial Road Safety Council introduced

Mbombela – Mpumalanga’s first Provincial Road Safety Council will be officially introduced on Friday.

Road Safety

Road Safety

The council is expected to help the national Transport Department raise road safety awareness at grassroots level.

“Through the councils, road safety messages will be able to reach a wider community audience,” said department spokesperson, David Nkambule.

A reduction in road fatalities in Mpumalanga over the festive season, from 205 in 2009/10 to 132 in 2010/11, has been attributed to intensified road safety education as well as traffic law enforcement. [Read more…]