FOLLOW UP: GOVERNMENT CONFIRM ECG ELIGIBLE CARS

The UK Government has released the list of car models that are eligible for the Electric Car Grant (ECG). There are a few surprises, including how no cars meet the Band 1 £3750 grant requirements. Click this link here, from EV Powered, to read more.

To see Nick Gibb’s Bluesky post, adding context to the question of how the Nissan Ayria was eligible, click this link here.

For the UK Government’s official list of eligible car models, click this link here.

FOLLOW UP: CITROËN ADDS MODELS TO ‘STOP-DRIVE’ RECALL

Citroën has now added new models to the previous ‘stop-drive’ order over faulty airbags. Car Dealer is reporting that before this around 120,000 vehicles were affected by the issue. Now that the C4 and DS4, built between 2010 and 2011, plus the DS5 built between 2010 and 2013 there is just a fraction under 10,000 additional vehicles. Citroën was already receiving a backlash on the perceived slowness in addressing the problem, this will not help. If you wish to learn more, click this Car Dealer article link here.

ROAD SAFETY CONSULTATION LAUNCHED

The UK Government has launched a road safety consultation, with a number of issues being given prominent place. For example, once drivers reach 70, they will have to have formal eye tests every three years to show they are fit to drive. Drivers with non seat belt wearing passengers will receive points on their license. There are more besides. Click this Autocar article link to read more.

UNSAFE ROAD VEHICLE NUMBERS RISE IN UK

In 2024, nearly 50% more vehicles that were found to be unsafe than the previous year. Tyres were the biggest issue but defective brakes too an alarming jump with 1190 drivers charged last year compared to 181 in 2023. To read more, click this Autocar article link here.

LONGBOW ADD MANAGEMENT HEAVYWEIGHTS TO BOARD

Longbow, the electric sports car start up, has announced that Mike Flewitt, Michael van der Sande and Dan Balmer are now on the advisory board. Flewitt was CEO of McLaren, van der Sande was at Alpine and Balmer was the boss of Lotus Europe. They will help the company as it works to bring a £65,000 lightweight two seater electric sports car out in 2027. If you want to find out more, click this Autocar article link here.

JLR THREATEN RIDICULOUS LEGAL ACTION

JLR sent a ‘cease and desist’ letter to the Rail Delivery Group, who run the National Rail website, due to them using the phrase “ranger and rover” to refer to ranger tickets and rover tickets. The car company decided that you are all too stupid to work out a rail company was not referring to a Range Rover. You will now only ever see the words if they are as follows, “ranger tickets and rover tickets”. If you wish to learn more, click this link to a piece in The Telegraph.

HYUNDAI TO CHARGE YOU TO SECURE YOUR CAR

Hyundai UK is now charging UK customers £49 to secure their cars from a known vulnerability. Unbelievable, but actually true. Click this link here, from The Register, to find out more.

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 -

Ford plans for the future

Ford has revealed the plans for their electric future, which goes from production to cars. They are going to shake up the way the make cars, which will allow them to make more affordable EVs. Models that will be brought out, from the new universal platform, include a mid-sized double-cab pickup, a hatchback, crossover, van and three row SUV. Ford admits this is a gamble, though. To find out more, click this Autocar article link here.

Kia simplifies model range

Kia UK has simplified their model range, as the Ceed is axed. Additionally they have slimmed down the Picanto range to one engine choice, whilst the Xceed gets a new range topping version. If you want to read more, click this Autocar article link here.

Stellantis recall due to fire risk

Stellantis is recalling 24 models, totalling just over 72,000 cars, due to loose nuts on fuel pipes that can lead to increased fuel consumption, with an ultimate risk of fire in the engine bay. Affected cars were built between 2023 and 2025 that have the 1.2 litre petrol engine. Click this Yahoo! News article link to check out the models involved.

DESIGNERS MOOD BOARD: KAI LANGER HEADS TO XIAOMI

Kia Langer, who was head of BMW i design has joined Xiaomi. Very few details have been revealed, including exactly what he will be doing. Click this electrive article link here to read more.

LUNCHTIME READ: CRIME DRIVEN TECHNOLOGY AND THE MOTOR BANDIT

In the inter-war period, the UK was gripped with fear about criminals using motor cars to enable them to commit crime. The reality was this happened significantly less than was imagined. A classic in the genre of ‘technology is bad’ and ‘society being whipped up by the media’. Fascinating read on how the police did have to adapt to this new threat. Click this link here to read more from The Journal of Historic Criminology.

LIST OF THE WEEK: THE BEST DASHBOARDS OF THE 70S AND 80S

If you think car makers have only recently taken to messing up interiors by being over complicated or oversimplified, think again. Here we are recommending you run through the slideshow provided by Autocar to see some of the more spectacular dashboards from the 70s and 80s. Click here to view your options.

AND FINALLY: A TINY HOME ON WHEELS

Toyota has a small people carrier that you can add to and configure the interior to replicate a lounge, a bedroom or an office. You can buy modular furniture to help transform the inside to match your requirements. Find out more, by clicking this Carscoops article link here.