Not Angry Just Disappointed - 22 June 2021

FOLLOW UP: GOVERNMENT STARTS E10 PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN

With the new E10 fuel being rolled-out across forecourts, from September, the Government has realised it had better tell the public it is happening and why it is a good thing. To find out more, click the Motoring Research article here.

ASTON MARTIN SUES INVESTORS

A deal penned by the previous management team, according to the current owners of Aston Martin, meant that Nebula Project AG, in return for providing funding for the Valkarie project, could take a percentage cut of any deposits placed, that they had secured. Aston Martin allege that they are owed £10 million as a result. They have started legal proceedings and asked for a criminal investigation into two of the former directors of Nebula. To read more, click the Autocar article here.

GOVERNMENT AWARDS FUNDING TO VARIOUS EV PROJECTS

The latest round of funding has been awarded, by the Government, to companies and projects that are both innovative and practical. For example, the OX project, where they are developing a solar powered refrigeration capability to their OX vehicle but that reduces the impact on the electric range has won. There are several other equally clever winners who are tackling a specific issue. To read more, click the Autocar article here.

MADRID GOES HYDROGEN FOR TAXIS

In a concerted effort to clean up the air of Madrid the various stakeholders have pulled together and produced a plan to replace ICE taxis with Hydrogen ones by 2025. They are talking about 1000 of them too! To read more, click the Fuel Cell Works article here.

GREATER MANCHESTER MAYORAL CANDIDATES FIGHT OVER CLEAN AIR

The Greater Manchester area is one of those who the Government has demanded take action over the quality of their air. The current proposal is for the entire region to implement a Clean Air Zone similar to Bath, that targets only commercial vehicles, taxis and buses. The subject is being hotly fought over in the campaigning for the Greater Manchester Mayor elections. To read more, click here for the Manchester Evening News article.

RENAULT REVEALS THREE URBAN EV CONCEPTS

Renault, via their Mobilize brand, have seemingly fully embraced the electric and mobility focused future. They have revealed three urban focused EVs that are proposals for car-sharing and last mile deliveries. There is some interesting thinking going on in Renault and it has prompted the chaps to realise there isn’t a one-size fits all solution to the type of vehicle that will be dominant, as there is right now. We are all going to need help shifting our mindset to select the most appropriate transport for the task we wish to achieve. To read more, click the YesAuto article here.

AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE ‘SIGHT’ CAN BE SPOOFED

Researchers have shown how easy it is to confuse camera-based systems so that they either cannot “see” the obsticle, or be fooled into thinking there is something there so the vehicle takes avoiding action. Now that you are a bit spooked, read the article from The Register to be properly scared by clicking the link here.

Now that we have your attention, there is more news that should dampen the hype around AVs and that is that radar signals interfere with other radar signals. Additional homework for you, dear listeners, is to read the EE Times article by clicking the link here.

PORSCHE GB APPOINTS SARAH SIMPSON AS NEW CEO

Porsche GB has appointed Sarah Simpson as their new CEO, following a move from Bentley, where she was Regional Director covering the UK. To read more, click the Fleet&Leasing article here.

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FORMULA E: MEXICO

Race 1 - Following an incident filled race, thanks in large part due to the position of the Attack Zone and where it exited onto the main track, Pascal Wehrlein went from winner to disqualified. Andrew is jolly grumpy with Formula E right now, this is the latests self-inflicted embarrassment of the season. A season there was high hopes for. To read more, click The Race’s article here.

Race 2 - This weekend was a double-header event. In Race 2 Edoardo Mortara took Venturi’s second victory in Formula E and in the process gave himself a 10-point lead in the championship. To read more, click The Race’s coverage here.

2021 FESTIVAL OF SPEED GOES AHEAD

The Goodwood Festival of Speed will be part of the Government’s Events Research Program, where they are experimenting on configurations for events and establishing what can and cannot be safely run in the UK. To find out more, click the Motoring Research article here.

NEW NEW CAR NEWS

Hyundai i20N

Hyundai has announced specs and prices for the new i20N, their latest spicy version of their range. Think the i30, but smaller, so fighting with the ‘Best Thing Since Sliced Bread’ award winner, Fiesta ST. To read more, click the Autocar article here.

Peugeot 308 SW

In the face of a sea of SUVs, Peugeot is launching the 308 SW, and mighty pleased are we to see they are. Now we hope enough people will buy them to ensure estates continue to be an option. To read more, click the Top Gear link here.

LUNCHTIME READ: AMI, MYSELF AND I

Incredibly tall and impossibly nice Editorial Director at Haymarket, Jim Holder, has spent some time with the wonderfully cute Citroën Ami. We urge you to read how much he liked it as well as how much his family liked it! To do your homework, click the Autocar link here.

LIST OF THE WEEK: TOP GEAR’S TOP 9 - FORGOTTEN FRENCH LUXO BARGES

Continuing the French theme this week, especially as we are suckers for luxury French cars, the Top 9 luxo barges, thanks to Top Gear. To run through the list, click the link here. As ever, do tell the chaps your choice.

AND FINALLY: SABINE SCHMITZ KURVE ON THE NORDSCHLEIFE

The Nürburgring has announced they will be honouring Sabine Schmitz by naming the first corner on the Nordschleife after her. The official ceremony will take place on 11 September, when the 6 hour Endurance Race takes place. To read more, click their Tweet here.