MotorSearch Oct 28th - Nov 11th 2022 Issue 134

Welcome to the latest edition of MotorSearch

Putting car dealers in front of car buyers NATIONALLY

The UK new car market recorded its second successive month of growth in September, with registrations rising 4.6% according to the latest fi gures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). During what is typically the second biggest month of the year for the sector, 225,269 cars joined British roads. While this was a 9,957 unit increase on last year, when the industry recorded its weakest September since 1998, overall reg istrations for the month are still some -34.4% below pre-pandemic levels as the industry continues to b attle issues constraining supply to fulfi l a backlog of orders.

September saw Britain’s millionth electric car reach the road – an important milestone in the shift to zero emission mobility. Battery electric vehicles make up but a small fraction of cars on the road, so we need to ensure every lever is pulled to encourage motorists to make the shift if our green goals are to be met.

The UK’s used car market shrank by -18.8% during the second quarter of 2022, with 1,759,684 transactions taking place, according to the latest fi gures released by the SMMT. Some 407,820 fewer vehicles changed hands compared with the same period last year, although the scale of this decline was artifi cially infl ated by comparison with 2021 when the easing of Covid restrictions saw the busiest second quarter since records began. By comparison, Q2 2022 was – 13.5% behind pre-pandemic 2019.

The reduction in new car supplies has helped used car markets to prosper and the market boomed during the pandemic. Demand outstripped supply, as people looked for safe alternatives to public transport and replaced older used cars with younger ones.

More recently high demand for petrol and diesel vehicles is con tinuing to drive the strength of the used car market. Despite a 4.6% uplift in new car registrations dur ing September ongoing supply constraints across the sector meant that buyers continued to pay a premium for their next vehicle – sparking a 0.3% rise in used car values at three years and 60,000 miles.

Projections into 2023 are sensitive to assumptions on how quick ly the abundance of negative factors will ease such as energy prices falling and improved conditions for economic growth - thus providing robust consumer confi dence and a steady long-term recovery.

We hope you enjoy this edition of MotorSearch – now national and fully interactive.

Best wishes

Claire Fullick

Sue Fuller-Anderson

Donna Goodall

Yousuf Ashraf

Autumn....

sun, and the return of icy windscreens

Stayone step ahead of the seasonal switch in driving conditions

As the clocks go back at the end of October, Autumn brings changes to the roads too.

Glare when the sun is low in the sky is more likely to be a problem at this time of year. To improve vision clean your windscreen, inside and out, removing the hazy lm that builds up.

Sort out glass scratches and chips they can intensify the sun’s glare. Replace your wiper blades if they’re worn, damaged, or more than a couple of years old.

Use a screen wash additive that’s made for the job – check the handbook if you’re not sure where to top it up.

Keep a pair of sunglasses in the car, and use the sun visors. Slow down if you’re dazzled.

Use headlights to help others see you.

Remember, if the sun is behind you, it’s in the eyes of those coming towards you, if the sun’s in your eyes it’s probably blinding drivers following you too.

Batteries generally last around ve years. If there’s any sign that your battery’s struggling now, it’s likely to let you down when it gets cold and damp. Replace now to avoid hassle later on and keep jump leads in your car.

Check your lights every few weeks throughout the year, but especially as autumn starts and we head into the darker months. Your handbook shows how to change a bulb but you might need a garage to change headlight ones. Remember the brake lights and number plate lights.

Check your tyres! We recommend at least 3mm of tread for the winter so if yours is getting low, buy new tyres now before the cold sets in and keep checking they are at the correct pressue.

Antifreeze is important all year round to prevent corrosion and improve summer cooling.

It should be checked as part of the regular service schedule. ere are di erent types and mixing them could damage your engine. Your handbook gives details of the correct antifreeze to use. If in doubt get a garage to check the antifreeze for you — many o er cheap or even free winter checks.

Published by Motorsearch Cardiff CF24 2SA Company Reg No: 09631163 email: sales@motorsearch.net

Director Donna Goodall Tel: 07482 312435 Email: donna@motorsearch.net

Director Sue Fuller-Anderson Tel: 07983 277372 Email: sue@motorsearch.net

Online Operations & Designer Claire Fullick Tel: 07786 872057 Email: claire@motorsearch.net

Feature Writer Yousuf Ashraf YouTube: Ashraf on Cars Email: yousuf22tkm@gmail.com

Produced Online By

Opinions expressed are not necessarily of those of the publisher. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of the contents, the publisher cannot accept any responsibility for errors or omissions. Some images may be used for illustration purposes only, please contact the advertiser for exact specifications. No infringement of copyright is intended.

X1

TIGUAN

X-DRIVE

miles,

£8995

in whote with

miles £8995

MATCH AUTO in black with cream

miles,

£20 road

£8995

PREMIUM 1.2 5dr in silver,

roof £8995

CITROEN C1 ELLE 5dr cream with black roof, 20,000 miles 1 owner £8995

13 MAZDA 6 SPORT NAV 2.0 petrol, 4dr in met blue with cream leather, 77,000 miles, high spec £8695

67 FORD FIESTA 1.0T ZETEC 5dr in black, 50,000 miles, low running costs £8495

17 FORD FIESTA 1.0T ZETEC 5dr in white, 56,000 miles, satnav etc £7995

65 FIAT 500 X 1.6 POP STAR 5dr in black, 58,000 miles, 2 owners,

MOBILE USE WHILE DRIVING RISKS LIVES

Mobile phones are now such a part of our lives that for most of us they’re the last thing we see at night and the frst thing we look at in the morning.

Our addictive relationship with the gadget has grown in proportion to the apps we rely on to direct our daily lives - not all of which are to our beneft. The dangers of using a mobile while driving are well documented and do attract very heavy fnes and penalties as well as higher insurance premiums for those convicted. Yet research shows that despite the practice being illegal since 2003, three quarters of British drivers see others using mobile phones on some or most journeys, while a quarter regularly spot drivers using their mobiles. And it’s not just talking that’s the problem - some drivers are texting, emailing, Tweeting, updating their social networks or taking photographs on the move.

Digital Rubber Necking

The AA/Populus poll of nearly 21,000 drivers found 42 per cent say they used a hand-held phone in the car even though nearly two thirds admitted it distracted them from driving. Some 20 per cent confessed to texting behind the steering wheel, four per cent admit to checking emails and two per cent have sent emails or read Twitter or Facebook updates on the move. Another worrying and morbid development is the advent of ‘digital rubber neckers’ - drivers who feel the need to use their phones to flm or photograph serious crashes on the motorway, said the motoring organisation. In one incident on the M1 in Northamptonshire, police recorded 80 drivers using their phones or cameras to photograph emergency services carry out a four-and-a-half-hour rescue of a woman trapped in her crashed truck. The seriously injured driver was eventually fown by air ambulance to hospital and survived the crash. The police have contacted most of the drivers to warn them about their illegal and irresponsible behaviour but have not brought any prosecutions.

Drivers need to concentrate on driving rather than be distracted by their digital technology. Our research shows that some drivers are now using their smart phones for more than talking on the move. It is really not smart to talk, text or tweet on the move. Digital rubber neckers who photograph crashes really are morbid voyeurs who should be concentrating on the road not the victims of crashes. It beggars belief that these macabre motorists should put their lives and others at risk through their lust for twisted metal. We would like to see the police target more mobile phone abusers so that the message gets out that it is not worth hanging on the telephone while driving.

AASpokesperson

Put Your Phone Away

Road safety charity Brake’s campaign urging drivers to put their phones out of sight and out of mind while driving warns that using a phone behind the wheel can lengthen reaction times to a similar extent to drink driving, signifcantly increasing the risk of crashing. The charity says unlike other types of deadly risk-taking, men and women - young and old - are almost equally guilty of using their phone behind the wheel, showing widespread misunderstanding of the dangers.

Use a phone while driving and you are taking a horrendous risk with your own life and the lives of others. Many drivers who wouldn’t dream of drink-driving are using phones while driving, oblivious that the effect on your reaction times can be similar. We’re urging people to drive smart, recognising that phone use at the wheel can and does destroy lives, and no call or text is ever that important. If you need to use your phone urgently, pull over somewhere safe frst: it’s as simple as that.

Spokesperson for Brake

• Priced from £45,420, the allnew Mazda CX 60 is now in the showroom.

• The all-new Mazda CX 60 SUV features Mazda’s first plug-in hybrid powertrain.

• Available in the UK across three highly specifi ed grades – ExclusiveLine, Homura and Takumi.

The all-new Mazda CX 60 is now available at Victoria Park Mazda to expand Mazda’s award-winning SUV range. Joining the UK line-up above the ever-popular 2022 Mazda CX 5, the Mazda CX 60 fl agship SUV is launched with Mazda’s fi rst plug-in hybrid technology powertrain, which combines a Skyactiv-G 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a 100 kW electric motor and a 17.8 kWh high-capacity battery.

This combination of engine and motor delivers a total system output of 327ps and an abundant torque output of 500Nm - making it the most powerful road car Mazda has ever produced. Mazda’s first PHEV also displays outstanding environmental credentials with WLTP combined fuel consumption

of 188mpg and WLTP combined CO2 emissions of only 33g/km.

The Mazda CX60 e-Skyactiv PHEV o ers 39 miles of combined electric motorpowered driving with the vehicle running at 62mph or less and 42 miles of city EV range, while the performance of the combined drivetrain delivers a 0-62mph performance of just 5.8 seconds.

O ered in the UK in three highly specififed trim grades: Exclusive-Line, Homura and Takumi, customer choice is further enhanced with the ability to add two option packs across all grades: Convenience Pack and Driver Assistance Pack, with a Com-ort Pack available on Exclusive-Line. An additional option to specify a Panoramic roof on Homura and Takumi models is also unique to the CX 60.

With an entry-level price of £45,420, the Mazda CX 60 Exclusive-Line can be matched to all three of the option packs to o er maximum customer choice and complement the extensive CX 60 standard equipment tally. The £48,170 Homura is visually distinguished from the Exclusive-Line by body coloured wheel arch mouldings and a dark plated signature wing grille surround, plus gloss black mirrors and honeycomb grille treatment, while 20-inch black alloy wheels finish the stand out exterior look. Inside, the Homura grade features seat heating for the outer rear seats and ambient lighting, plus it’s equipped with the ground-breaking

Mazda Driver Personalisation System that will recognise the occupant of the driver’s seat via facial recognition and automatically adjust the surroundings – seat position, steering wheel, mirrors, head-up display, even the sound and climate control settings – to fi t their physique as well as their personal preferences. There’s also the option to add the Convenience Pack and Driver Assistance Pack to the Mazda CX60 Homura.

At the top of the all-new Mazda CX60 range is the £49,520 Takumi, which features 20-inch black machined alloy wheels and body-coloured mirrors, combined with chrome plated signature wing grille treatment and side window surround, while the gloss black bar type radiator grille design is another feature unique to this flagship grade. Like the Homura, there’s the option to add the Convenience Pack and Driver Assistance Pack. Highlights in the £1,000 Convenience Pack include privacy glass, 360 view monitor with see through view and wireless phone charging, while the Driver Assistance Pack adds a large tally of additional active safety technology for £1,100.

The £1,400 Comfort Pack is only o ered with the Exclusive-Line, but adds highgrade features like 20-inch alloy wheels, electric front seats, front seat ventilation, rear seat heaters and the Mazda Driver Personalisation System technology. Across all three models in the CX60 range there is a choice of eight body colours including the new Rhodium White premium metallic paint.

Available now to order for delivery during this month (depending on specification), the all-new Mazda CX60 e-Skyactiv PHEV heralds a new chapter in Mazda’s successful SUV history and joins the battery electric Mazda MX 30, Mazda M Hybrid mild-hybrid equipped Mazda CX 30 and recently updated 2022 Mazda CX5 in Mazda’s comprehensive SUV line-up.

For further information please contact the Sales team at Victoria Park Mazda on 029 20347443 or visit www.victoriaparkmazda.co.uk.

SOONER THAN

MIGHT THINK

Jeff White Motors in Cardiff, just 5 minutes from junction 33 on the M4 is the place to get excited about when choosing your dream car.

With over 30 years experience specialising in Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Land Rover, Mini with a choice of over 400 quality pre-owned cars at your disposal. A true family business that has grown into one of the largest independent used car dealers in South Wales.

Visit Jeff White Motors 211 Ninian Park Road, Canton Cardiff, speak to one of our experienced Sales Executives on 02920 395777 or browse our comprehensive website www.jeffwhitemotors.co.uk

Is it the end of the road for the iconic Ford Fiesta?

Britain’s most popular car is set to be ‘axed’ after 46 years and 4.8million sales, with no electric model in the works ahead of 2030 ban on new diesel and petrol vehicles sales

* Ford Fiesta, the most common car on Britain’s roads, is expected to be scrapped after 46 years of production

* Since it was launched in 1976 there have been 4.8million UK sales and it has featured in James Bond flm

* Ford has no plans for an electric version of its existing £19k Fiesta, which could see it axed as early as 2023

* The Fiesta had been the nation’s most-bought new car for 12 consecutive years from 2009 to 2020

Britain’s most popular car, the Ford Fiesta, is expected to be scrapped by the company after 46 years of production and 4.8million sales, according to an insider. Ford is instead opting for more electric models, as the UK government’s ban on new petrol and diesel car sales is set to be introduced in 2030.

The manufacturer has no plans for an electric version of its £19,000 hybrid 2022 Fiesta, meaning the latest model could mark the end of the road for the iconic supermini, the Sun reports. This means the fve door hatchback is likely to be withdrawn from sale in the coming years, with the three-door vehicle already scrapped in the spring.

An insider described the move as a ‘strategic decision’ by

the company to move its style more towards crossovers as it embarks on its electric future.

A briefng is expected to be held this week among select parties to discuss the demise of the Fiesta with an offcial announcement said to be imminent.

The brand’s electrifcation of its model line-up could see the car removed from showrooms as early as the middle of next year, according to some reports. In October 2020, Ford confrmed it had culled all diesel-engined versions of the Fiesta from its line-up for good as demand for oil burners continued to decline following the dieselgate scandal in 2015. Fiestas are widely considered Britain’s favourite model and had 12 consecutive years as the number one

bestseller from 2009 to 2020. It was knocked off the top spot last year by the Vauxhall Corsa, with Ford opting to prioritise its commercial vehicle production on the back of higher demand during parts supply shortages resulting from the Covid pandemic. DVLA records for last year showed that of the 39.2million licensed vehicles of all types on the road in Great Britain, 1.54million were Fiestas. The larger Focus was second with 1.3million on UK roads in 2021.

There have been seven generations of the popular car since it was launched in the summer of 1976. The same year, a Fiesta appeared alongside Roger Moore in James Bond flm The Spy Who Loved Me.

Other celebs associated with it include two-time Academy award-winner Renee Zellweger, who is said to drive one, and Idris Elba, who worked on the Fiesta plant for two years before he found fame. The car was built at a plant in Dagenham until 2002, before production moved to Germany. But SUV-style cars are becoming increasingly popular in the UK, with the British-manufactured Nissan Qashqai rising up car sales to a close second behind supermini Vauxhall Corsa.

Ford appears to be increasingly seeing larger models as the way forward commercially, as sales of SUVs reached a record high of 45 per cent of global car sales last year. A surge in electric car sales has also taken place, with a record 28 per cent of car sales battery-powered last year.

Ford is certainly going green, with four new batterypowered cars and fve vans set to come in by 2024.

The Mustang Mach-e is already on sale while a Puma EV and two mid-size crossovers are expected to follow - though electric Fiestas have reportedly been ruled out. New electric models will be produced as part of Ford’s recent partnership with German powerhouse Volkswagen, which will see the two automotive giants work on joint projects for electric cars and vans.

The frst of the two new crossovers It will be built at Ford’s new electric-only state-of-the-art manufacturing centre in Cologne, Germany, and should be in production and on sale from next year.

Ford promises it will have a

full-charge battery range of 500km (311 miles) and its name will be revealed later in 2022.

VW’s ID.4, with the 77kWh Pro Performance battery, has a claimed range of 320 miles. The second EV model - also produced in Cologne - will follow in 2024, which is being described as a ‘sports crossover’ - likely a coupe version of the SUV arriving a year before.

The Ford Puma EV - a fully-electric version of the existing compact SUV - will arrive in 2024 and be built at the brand’s manufacturing plant in Craiova, Romania

There is already an electric version of Ford’s iconic Transit vans, with a smaller E-Transit Custom coming soon and another two batteryonly commercial vehicles to arrive in the next two years. The company axed its Mondeo model earlier this year and production will cease on the popular Ford Focus family hatchback in 2025.

A spokesman said: ‘Ford is changing and we are looking at all possibilities for our future portfolio of all-electric vehicles.’

Ford has faced major supply chain issues in recent months and was even forced to temporarily stop Fiesta orders in June due to supply chain issues. A shortage of semi-conductors hit the car manufacturing industry this year, with widespread supply chain diffculties also exasperated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Neither the Fiesta nor the Ford Focus have appeared in the list of best-selling cars in the UK this year. However, the Puma SUV - which shares a platform with the Fiesta but is higher off

the ground - is the nation’s third most-popular new passenger car with 27,680 registrations by the end of September, which is around 1,500 fewer than the Corsa in the number one spot. Meanwhile, Ford’s Transit Custom remains by far Britain’s best-selling vehicle, with more new versions hitting the road in 2022 than even the Corsa. Some 33,564 Transit Customs have been bought this year compared to just 29,342 examples of the Vauxhall supermini. A further 25,178 units of the larger one-tonne Transit have been registered this year. A ban on new diesel and petrol car sales from 2030 was announced by Boris Johnson’s government as part of its wider plan for a ‘green industrial revolution’ in November 2020. The measure is a major part of ministers’ efforts to meet the target of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Earlier this month, Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan doubled down on the ban, saying it will go ahead. The decision comes despite concerns that a global shortage of computer chips since the start of the pandemic - as well as problems producing enough batteries - could impact the growth of the electric vehicle market. Earlier this year, the Department for Transport set out a proposed timeline for a Zero Emission Vehicle mandate (ZEV), which scheduled for 22 per cent of manufacturers’ new car sales to be zero emissions by 2024, rising to 33 per cent in 2026, 52 per cent in 2028 and 80 per cent in 2030. There are similar targets for the sales of zero emission vans.

PARK MAZDA

CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF SALES SUCCESS IN CARDIFF

In a year that saw the first Mazda vehicles roll o the Hofu Plant No.1 production line, Mazda welcomed Victoria Park Mazda to its UK dealer network. Now marking its 40th Anniversary, the Welsh dealership has received a commemorative plaque to cele brate the significant milestone.

Established as a Mazda dealership since 1982, Victoria Park Mazda is one of Maz da’s longest-serving dealerships across the UK and has built a reputation for delivering

first-class customer service in Cardi . Cur rently located on Hadfield Road, Cardi , the family-run business was named as the UK’s top Mazda dealership as ‘Dealer of the Year’ in 1989 and 1992, and has since further ce mented its first-class customer service with the dealership’s five-star Feefo rating, as vot ed by real customers.

Presenting the commemorative plaque, Jer emy Thomson, Managing Director at Mazda UK, said: “It’s an absolute pleasure to be at

Victoria Park Mazda and to recognise the hard work, dedication and commitment demonstrated by Tony Marshall and the team over the last four decades. The industry has significantly changed in the last 40 years, but with the focused team at Victoria Park Mazda combined with the exciting Mazda vehicles on o er, the dealership has been an integral part of our success in the UK.”

Accepting the award, Peter Marshall, Mar keting Director at Victoria Park Mazda, com

8AQ

Victoria Park Mazda, Hadfield Road, Cardi

LONGEST RUNNING DEALERSHIP.

NAMED TWICE AS

OF THE YEAR’ ACROSS THE UK.

PRAISED FOR OUTSTANDING

Left to right: Gareth Jones, VPM Managing Director, Tony Marshall, VPM Director, Jeremy Thomson, MMUK Managing Director, Peter Marshall VPM Marketing Director, Laura Brailey, MMUK Head of Retail Operations Sales

mented “Our core principle of providing our customers with an exceptional customer experience with transparent communication throughout the entire customer journey has always resonated with our customers and are key values which we still hold true today. We are very proud to celebrate 40 years of being part of the Mazda brand and serving the local community.”

Adding, “Having originally opened the deal ership on Cowbridge Road East in the Vic toria Park area in 1982, then later moving to Bessemer Road and now our current stateof-the-art dealership on Hadfield Road, we have witnessed the dealership grow from strength-to-strength with our expanding vol ume of sales, growing servicing facility and genuine parts centre, but above all, our in

creasing loyal customer base. In fact, one of our most loyal customers has purchased 26 Mazda vehicles since we opened 40 years ago, which is a true reflection of the consist ently great service customers can expect at Victoria Park Mazda.”

He continued, “Many of our team have worked at Victoria Park Mazda for a number of years – I have personally worked full-time at the dealership for 28 years and Gareth Jones, our Managing Director has been with us for the last 33 years, which is a real tes tament to our business and the values my father instilled when building Victoria Park Mazda 40 years ago. We are proud to be part of the Mazda family and we are excited for the arrival of the next major evolution of Mazda vehicles to come. We look forward to seeing what the next 40 years holds.”

For more information on Mazda’s award-win ning range or Victoria Park Mazda, visit the showroom on Hadfield Road, call on 02920 600 269 or visit www.mazda.co.uk/dealer/ victoria-park-mazda/home/.

Victoria Park Mazda, Hadfield Road, Cardi CF11 8AQ

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Simply put, we are on a mission to connect our clients across all sectors to generate more business,for more people.

We’re proud to say that we are thriving due to the fantastic community that we nd ourselves in. What makes Introbiz work, is the energy of the community as a whole.We welcome you to join us on our journey, to create new connections and do more business.Click here to take you through to our website for more information

TOP CARS FOR NEW DRIVERS

Using industry demographics and current models, what are the options for your son or daughter’s first set of wheels.

Predicting who will buy which type of car has always been difficult for vehicle manufacturers, but nevertheless they do not make cars without knowing the target market and matching each model to specific demographic groups. There are naturally exceptions, but generally demographics play a huge part in how new models of cars are marketed. Large saloon and estate cars are usually aimed at families and are often driven by Dads. Mums tend to be less concerned with visual appeal and performance so are likely to choose MPVs or SUVs for the security that a bigger car offers. As people get older they are more inclined to drive a car that is reliable with cheaper running costs and perhaps some extra space for trips out with the grandchildren.

Stereotypes Work in the Car Industry

The young male driver is likely to go for a car which is both sporty and cool but this will depend on how much money they or their parents have available and their restrictions on what they will permit their sons to drive given safety concerns. Daughters often choose cars that are smaller and easier to drive, with phone devices and music being a priority. Naturally these are broad generalisations and stereotyping people in terms of which cars they are likely to purchase by sex or age could easily attract criticism, yet this seems to work for the

car manufacturing industry. Using these demographics and looking at vehicles currently on the market we have come up with some suggestions for parents who are thinking about purchasing a car for their sons or daughters, some of which are cheap and others less so.

Citroen DS3

The Citroen DS3 came onto the market in 2010 and since then has won many prestigious awards for its style and performance in the supermini range. French manufactured, this car was the primary model of the premium DS line. Citroen have long been renowned for their outstanding diesel and THP petrol engines both in terms of performance and running costs. The DS3 can be customised with a whole range of technology including an MP3/CD player, cruise control and LED running lights. However, the style options that are available with this car really make it a popular choice. There is a wide and diverse range of exteriors to choose from together with purchasers being able to select contrasting roof and wing mirror colours. Also available are alloy wheels and wheel caps. The DS3 sits in the more expensive end of the market but is hard to beat for style and performance.

Suzuki Swift

An absolutely fantastic supermini, the Suzuki manufactured Swift will match perfectly with the image that most young male drivers want to create. Despite

being relatively compact it does have a magnificent sporty look and the latest models have more gadgetry than the previous range. Technology includes a USB port, Bluetooth and a CD player and the style is guaranteed to impress even the most discerning of peers. With very economic running costs and a variety of engine sizes to choose from, the Swift has great performance and has attained the Euro NCAP maximum 5 stars for safety due to its ESP (Electronic Stability Programme) which is standard across the range, anti-whiplash front seats and additional safety kit.

Ford Ka

The Ford Ka has been in the marketplace for several years and is particularly popular with female drivers. Wide rear haunches defined the previous model of the Ka, but the latest model is much more dynamic and stylish, synonymous with the appearance of all recent models in the Ford range. Featuring straight lines and angles, the Ka has been redesigned with a range of options to customise the interior. With a range of engine sizes available the Ka is efficient, reliable and economic on running costs.

THREE REASONS TO SWITCH TO AN ELECTRIC CAR

Ifyou’re thinking of making the switch to an electric motor, then you’ve got more choice than ever before! Plus, battery powered EVs drive faster than previously too. With the government’s focus moving from diesel and petrol vehicles to the point where sales are likely to be banned by 2030, now couldn’t be a better time to shop electric. Increasingly popular, EV manufacturers are consistently releasing new models to keep up with demand.

requires less maintenance which means no more oil changes or expensive mechanic bills when your timing belt needs replacing.

Quick Charging Time

Naturally, one of the most important considerations about purchasing an electric car is having to charge it. At the beginning of EV manufacturing, charging a vehicle used to take a long time but now it’s a di erent story. Almost all models have fast charging capabilities and, with public charging points being more accessible, you could only be waiting 20 minutes for a full tank. You also have the option of installing a home charger and although these may take longer, it’s only a matter of time before technology will speed this up.

Receive Financial Incentives

Motoring companies such as Kia, Volkswagen and Jaguar are now o ering a broad selection of electric cars to suit a range of budgets. So whether you choose a plug in city car or a more up market luxurious model, the chances are you’ll nd an option to suit your style, and wallet. If a brand new model isn’t within your reach, then consider a second hand one from around £5000 upwards. Either way, the advantages of buying an electric vehicle are many so read on to nd out more.

Cheap to Run

Despite the initial he y price tag when buying a new electric vehicle, car experts argue that buyers will save money in the car’s lifetime as refueling costs are minimal. In fact, electric cars can be up to 80% less costly than a petrol version of the same car. On average, an electric vehicle will drive between 80-90 miles per charge, making them extremely e cient. Additionally, an EV has less components and therefore

Everyone likes to save money and purchasing an electric car will help you do just that! All zero-emission electric cars qualify from a government grant worth up to £3,500 plus an additional grant towards a home charger. ere are also grants available from e O ce for Low Emission Vehicles to reduce costs further. Usually, you will receive more bene ts from insurance companies too which can include battery cover. If that’s not enough to persuade you, then consider the lower road taxes too.

Goodbye to the Guzzlers

In the next ten years, electric cars will be the most mainstream option for a more ecofriendly driving experience. Furthermore, as the advantages of owning an EV broaden, the price tag will become more a ordable so it might be time to say goodbye to your fuel guzzlers and say hello to the future of driving.