Author: Rhys Gregory

With more than 90% of road traffic accidents coming down to human error, the importance of autonomy and its safety benefits cannot be overlooked. As the industry moves into a new era of autonomous driving technologies, safety benchmarks and standards are evolving, forcing car companies to adopt new technologies to keep their cars competitive. IDTechEx’s report “Autonomous Cars, Robotaxis and Sensors 2024-2044” provides market outlooks for the next twenty years. Levels of autonomy Autonomy in vehicles can look different depending on the SAE level, varying from 0 to 5. Level 0 is now largely a thing of the past, with…

The FIA European Rally Championship will return to Wales for the first time in 28 years as the JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion returns this year with an exciting new route covering the stunning landscapes of Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire, and Powys. Taking place from 30 August to 1 September, 2024, the event will attract top competitors from across the world, with an extended and demanding route that will offer both participants and spectators an unforgettable experience. Spectators are invited to join the action and community festivities. Key viewing areas and fan zones will be set up along the route. For details on…

Pembrey Circuit will host the inaugural Welsh Motorsport & Supercar Festival on Sunday 22nd September 2024, exactly 31 years to the day since the late Brazilian F1 racing driver Ayrton Senna set the fastest lap around the home of Welsh motorsport. It was widely reported at the time that Senna broke the Pembrey lap record in 1988, less known however is that the team returned five years later to test a ‘stretched’ McLaren MP4/8B powered by a Lamborghini V12 engine. On this day Senna recorded an incredible time of 40.60 secs which remains the fastest lap around the Pembrey Circuit…

The UK new car market has hit the half year million motors mark for the first time in five years, after new car registrations rose in June by a modest 1.1% to reach 179,263 units, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. As a result, so far in 2024, 1,006,763 new cars have been registered, up 6.0% on the previous year but still down -20.7% on 2019. June’s market growth was driven primarily by the fleet sector, where uptake rose by 14.2%, while private retail demand fell for the ninth consecutive month, down -15.3%. Retail buyers accounted for fewer than four…

A fleet of 50 individual electric vehicles are this week competing in the A-Z EV Rally 2024, travelling more than 1,400 miles throughout England and Wales and checking-in at strategic locations in alphabetical order. Y Gelli (Hay on Wye), will be the penultimate stop on the five-day rally with the electric vehicles (EV) making their final charge on Friday 5 July, before heading up to the ‘Zero Carbon’ Rhug Estate. The network of EV charging points across Powys is growing each year. Matt Perry, Powys County Council’s Chief Officer – Place explains: “Alongside a growing network of private EV charging…

Dick Lovett is delighted to announce the opening of their new state-of-the-art Porsche ‘Destination’ Centre in Newport. The new Centre will open to the public on Monday 13th May and will act as a replacement for Dick Lovett’s previous Porsche Centre in Cardiff. Their Cardiff Porsche Centre was a prominent feature of the local landscape for over 20 years, with the new Newport Centre looking to exceed the expectations of the community. The new Porsche ‘Destination’ Centre in Newport will span over 7,000m² across two storeys, providing the widest selection of pre-owned Porsche cars in Wales. The Centre will also…

On your marks, get set, go… The most unexpected, unscripted and unforgettable motorsports experience for families and fans is back in Cardiff by popular demand. Monster Jam® roars back into Principality Stadium on Saturday 6th July for an adrenaline-charged day, where world champion athletes and their 12,000 pound monster trucks tear up the dirt in wide-open competitions of speed and skill. Tickets go on sale this week, with Monster Jam Priority Customers able to purchase tickets from Wednesday 24th April, before tickets go on-sale to the general public on Friday 26th April. The fun begins before the event at the…

The 24-plate change boosted new-car registrations in March, according to SMMT figures. But private buyers have put the brakes on pure electric purchases and the car makers want Government incentives to be increased if it wants to meet emissions targets. March signals a twentieth month of consecutive growth for the automotive sector, a remarkable milestone for the industry, said Sue Robinson, Chief Executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), which represents franchised car and commercial vehicle retailers in the UK commenting on the latest SMMT new car registration figures. In March, a total of 317,786 new cars were registered,…

Slower driving speeds, increased levels of walking and cycling and minimal impact on journey times are among the key findings of a new report carried out in areas of Wales trialling the new default 20mph speed limit. The interim monitoring report uses data gathered from the Welsh Government’s eight first phase areas and has been published today (Friday, March 17) – exactly six months before default limit is applied across Wales. On September 17, the Welsh Government will introduce a default 20mph speed limit on restricted roads across Wales. Restricted roads include where streetlights are placed no more than 200…

Tesla have become the dominant EV brand, but they’re facing fresh competition Since the launch of the Tesla Model 3 in 2019 the American manufacturer have become one of the most popular brands not only in the UK but worldwide. Landing on these shores with much anticipation, it could be argued that it was the Model 3’s arrival that really kick-started the EV revolution in the UK. Available on hugely affordable Tesla lease deals, it didn’t take long for them to become one of the best-selling electric cars on the market. Tesla followed that up with the equally successful Model…