Time That Precious Commodity - 12 January 2021

NEW CAR REGISTRATION FIGURES FOR DECEMBER AND ALL 2020

The New Car Registration figures are dissected for December and the whole of 2020. That the overall figure is only down 29% for 2020 is remarkable. The Top 10 registered cars (not sellers!) has a different look to it. As a side note, the Ford Transit Custom had more registered than the third place Golf for 2020. To read more, click the SMMT article here.

56,000 VW GOLF MODELS RECALLED

Volkswagen is issuing a “voluntary service measure”, to fix software issues with the Golf’s infotainment and reversing camera systems. VW has struggled with software issues for both the Golf and ID.3, which were launched last year. To read more, click the Reuters article here.

SUPERMARKETS ACCUSED OF FUEL PRICE RIP-OFF

Supermarkets have increased their forecourt prices well above the cost of wholesale fuel. This has led to anger from motoring groups and customers. To read more, click the Motoring Research article here.

ANPR CAMERAS USED BY DEVON AND CORNWALL

Devon and Cornwall Police are deploying ANPR cameras, to spot vehicles entering the counties who are not registered locally, to prevent those travelling from other areas doing so against the latest Covid restriction rules. To read more, click the Motoring Research article here.

DETROIT 2021 MOTOR SHOW CANCELLED

Organisers of the 2021 Detroit Motor Show have taken the advanced step of cancelling the event that was due to take place in September. New plans are for a combined indoor and outdoor experience aimed at car fans, with a location of Phoenix. To read more, click the Motoring Research article here.

COMPANIES WITH NEW FLAT LOGOS

Thanks to electrification and the ability to light up car badges or logos, many companies have reinvigorated theirs, with a ‘flat’ design. Kia is the latest to do so, along with General Motors. To find out more about what the new looks represent for Kia click the Autocar article here. To learn more about what GM have done, click the Autocar article here. To find out who else has made this move in the last year, click the Dezeen article here.

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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

NEW CAR REGISTRATION FIGURES FOR DECEMBER AND ALL 2020

The New Car Registration figures are dissected for December and the whole of 2020. That the overall figure is only down 29% for 2020 is remarkable. The Top 10 registered cars (not sellers!) has a different look to it. As a side note, the Ford Transit Custom had more registered than the third place Golf for 2020. To read more, click the SMMT article here.

56,000 VW GOLF MODELS RECALLED

Volkswagen is issuing a “voluntary service measure”, to fix software issues with the Golf’s infotainment and reversing camera systems. VW has struggled with software issues for both the Golf and ID.3, which were launched last year. To read more, click the Reuters article here.

SUPERMARKETS ACCUSED OF FUEL PRICE RIP-OFF

Supermarkets have increased their forecourt prices well above the cost of wholesale fuel. This has led to anger from motoring groups and customers. To read more, click the Motoring Research article here.

ANPR CAMERAS USED BY DEVON AND CORNWALL

Devon and Cornwall Police are deploying ANPR cameras, to spot vehicles entering the counties who are not registered locally, to prevent those travelling from other areas doing so against the latest Covid restriction rules. To read more, click the Motoring Research article here.

DETROIT 2021 MOTOR SHOW CANCELLED

Organisers of the 2021 Detroit Motor Show have taken the advanced step of cancelling the event that was due to take place in September. New plans are for a combined indoor and outdoor experience aimed at car fans, with a location of Phoenix. To read more, click the Motoring Research article here.

COMPANIES WITH NEW FLAT LOGOS

Thanks to electrification and the ability to light up car badges or logos, many companies have reinvigorated theirs, with a ‘flat’ design. Kia is the latest to do so, along with General Motors. To find out more about what the new looks represent for Kia click the Autocar article here. To learn more about what GM have done, click the Autocar article here. To find out who else has made this move in the last year, click the Dezeen article here.

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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

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FORMULA E: MCLAREN TAKE OPTION TO JOIN GEN3 SERIES

McLaren have taken up the option to join the Formula E series, from 2022/23 season. There is no news if this will be partnering the Andretti team, who will be without a manufacturer or going solo. To read more, click the Formula E article here.

FORMULA E: GEN3 POWERTRAIN SUPPLIER SELECTED

Formula E has announced the selection of the Gen3 ‘front powertrain kit’ supplier to be Atieva, who are the current battery supplier. To read more, click The Race article here.

FORMULA E: ESPORTS SERIES ANNOUNCED

Formula E will be launching a new eSPorts series, to begin later in January, which will combine sim racers with the real-world racers into manufacturer team, with both helping to decide the manufacturer title. There is also a combined €100,000 prize fund to be shared, along with a Gen2 car test drive. To read more, click The Race article here.

FORMULA E: NEW PLAN B TRACK LINED UP

Formula E has been working hard for ‘Plan B’, in case the pandemic affects any of the races this year, with a back-up track. The new layout of Valencia is the favourite to fill any gaps. To read more, click The Race article here.

WRC: MONTE CARLO RALLY SCHEDULE

The shortened schedule of the Monte Carlo Rally has been announced, with rubber stamping expected anytime, which will mean the even can take place. Organisers and local officials will monitor the situation closely but the hope is the rally will take place now. To read more, click the DirtFish article here.

WRC: YPRES IN WITH GB OUT

WRC mad the sad announcement that Rally GB will be dropped from the 2021 calendar, to be replaced by Ypres. To read more on that move, click the DirtFish article here.

The fear is now, that we will not see another WRC event in Britain for many years to come. To understand how we have got to that situation and how it does look so bleak, click the DirtFIsh article here.

LUNCHTIME READ: SIDE EFFECTS MAY INCLUDE….

Emission Analytics has a very good article about the pros and cons of trying to move to zero emission transportation, what the options are and how some are more suitable than others for particular needs. In other words, they bring some much needed balance and show the nuances that are part of the issue. To read this excellent piece, click the link here.

LIST OF THE WEEK: THE CAR WORLD’S GREATEST MISSED OPPORTUNITIES

Autocar has compiled a slide show with 5 examples of cars that could’ve been great but for a variety of reasons were not. To run through the list, click the link here.

AND FINALLY: WHEN IS A GATE NOT A GATE?

Somerset Council installed a new cattle grid and gate on one particular road that has flummoxed many automatic emergency braking systems into thinking it was, in fact, a wall or obstruction. Due to the gradient when approaching the cattle grid, the sensors ‘saw’ something blocking the car’s path, applied the brakes, which has caused a few incidents. The council has adapted the area, spending quite a bit of cash to reduce the camber and gradient. To read more, click the BBC News article here.