New car registrations fell by 11.5% in January to 128,811 units which was in line with the SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturer’s and Traders) expectations. Interestingly the market share for cars with a CO2 figure of less than 100g/km increased again by 65% . Average new car CO2 emissions were 141.5g/km which compares favourably to the figure in 2010, which was 144.2g/km.

Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive commented,”New car registrations fell by 11.5% in January. This is in line with SMMT forecasts and marks the beginning of a challenging year for the UK motor industry. Consumer confidence is low and it is important that government uses the March budget to help relieve some of the financial pressure on motorists by freezing fuel duty,while providing stability and certainty on motoring taxes. Despite the challenging conditions, the demand for low CO2 emitting and highly fuel efficient cars continues to grow”.

Some other interesting facts;

• In terms of market sector, Private Registrations were down by 20.8% to 51,570, Fleet (25+fleets) is down by 3.1% to 70,448 and the Business sector (under 25 fleets) fell by 11.1% to  6,793.
• Diesel new car registrations continued to grow with 65,079 vehicles registered, an increase of 8.3% year on year.
• Petrol cars fell by 25.9% (61,932 units) and AFVs (alternatively fuelled vehicles) by 2.4% (1,800 vehicles).
• The top selling car in the UK was the Ford Focus, followed by the Ford Fiesta and then the Vauxhall Astra.
• Demand for the mini and supermini segments fell (following the loss of the Scrappage Incentive Scheme) however demand for executive, luxury, MPV and dual purpose segments cars recovered strongly.

Further details can be found at the SMMT website.

The SMMT has released the data on new car registrations which fell by 11.5% in November to 139,875 units. This was ahead of the forecast and new car market registrations remain up by 3.4% over the first 11 months of the year, at 1,907,029 units. The final 2010 year figure is expected to be around the 2.03 million unit mark, up by 2% on the 2009 figure. The SMMT also forecasts that the market will fall in 2011 by 5% to 1.93 million units as consumers and businesses alike react to the impact of the Government’s austerity measures and the squeeze on spending.

The market is still trying to adjust to the removal of the Car Scrappage Incentive Scheme, however the better than expected performance was due to an improvement in the fleet volume sector (25+ vehicles), which was up by 10.7% over the year to date numbers.

Diesel car volumes also rose sharply to 53% in November, plus alternatively fuelled cars jumped by 83.5% in the month to gain an overall market share of 1.3% of the November car registrations. The Ford Fiesta was once again the top seller in the month, followed by the Ford Focus and the Volkswagen Golf. Year-to-date the top three sellers are the Ford Fiesta (98,453 units), Vauxhall Astra (75,276) and Ford Focus (73,973).

Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive, said,”New car registrations fell by less than expected in November with demand from the fleet sector helping to offset the market rebalancing following the end of the Scrappage Incentive Scheme. Registrations are expected to fall next month, but demand may benefit from motorists looking to avoid the January VAT rise. This factor, coupled with the strength of the first half of 2010, means year-end volumes are expected to lift to over 2.03 million units, 2% up from last year. Next year will continue to be challenging as consumer spending tightens and government’s austerity measures take effect”.

Ford focus

Ford is offering some lucky consumers the chance to participate in their Ford Focus Global Test Drive, between the 18th-20th of February 2011. The event is being held at the National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA) near Madrid in Spain, as the location has a wide range of driving surfaces (more than 10) for drivers to fully experience the new Ford Focus, before the car reaches UK shores in March/April 2011.

Jim Farley, group vice president of Global Marketing, Sales and Service, said,”Based on what we have learned with the Fiesta Movement and other social media launch efforts, we chose this unique location to give consumers and bloggers a very special experience. Our guests will get a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience behind the wheel of the all-new Focus, within a world-class proving ground facility”.

Full details of the Focus Global Test Drive application form can be found on the Ford Focus Facebook site and selected candidates will be chosen on a range of criteria including individual creative content, social networking vibrancy and volume of votes they receive. You will also need to submit a video explaining why you should be one of the lucky candidates.

Autoglym technician

Autoglym has revealed that insect remains are equally as damaging to car paintwork as bird lime with similar levels of acidity found in both deposits. If left untreated and in direct sunlight this can lead to the deterioration of lacquer on paintwork.

Autoglym’s laboratory technicians called upon Tom Chilton (the 25-year old British Touring Car Championship contender) and his Team AON 270bhp LPG-powered BTCC Ford Focus to drive round Snetterton race circuit in Norfolk. Following several high speed laps, the Autoglym technicians evaluated their Active Insect Remover on baked-on insects which had hit the car at speeds up to 144.5mph. Paul Caller, Autoglym’s CEO said,”It’s important in these summer months, when the flying insects of various types are most prevalent, that motorists are vigilant in removing bug splats as soon as possible. Acidic deposits -bug splats and bird lime -can begin to degrade lacquer after just 10 minutes”.

E&T magazine

An investigation by E&T magazine has raised serious questions about the viability in investing in the production of EV batteries using lithium-ion or any other current technology, plus the millions needed to support the building of the support infrastructure. They have suggested the Government would be better off encouraging the development of high efficiency diesel models and hybrids.

Basically the long-term limitations in battery technology could restrict electric cars to under a 100-mile range, while rapid charging is likely to limit battery life to just two years. The article in the latest edition of E&T gave an example of a standard model Ford Focus or Volkswagen Golf being capable of driving 600km in mixed driving conditions, on one tank of fuel and maintaining 70mph.  For an electric car to offer a similar level of performance, E&T experts calculated that the batteries alone would weigh 1.5 tons, would be larger than a conventional car and would cost approximately £100,000.

They also commented that UK electricity is likely to be from non-renewable sources for the next ten years and an electric vehicle could actually contribute more CO2 to the environment than a current high efficiency diesel model.

Ford Focus

Ford has reported strong sales of both cars and commercial vehicles in May, retaining overall UK market leadership. The Ford Fiesta, Ford Focus, Ford Galaxy and Ford Mondeo are all segment leaders while the Ford Transit is still Britain’s favourite van.

The Ford Focus pipped the Ford Fiesta in May, to top the charts and Nigel Sharp, Ford of Britain managing director said, “Ford’s ongoing introduction of new models and advanced technology is attracting both our car and commercial vehicle customers. Together with our dealers we are working hard to demonstrate the outstanding value provided by the Ford range in an intensively competitive UK market”. Ford contract hire prices on the whole range of cars and vans are on the site now.

New Mitsubishi ASX

Mitsubishi Motors (UK) has released pricing and specification details of their new urban crossover vehicle, the ASX. This model is designed to compete in the Nissan Qashqai and Hyundai ix35 segment and is aimed at customers who would normally buy a C-segment car like the Volkswagen Golf or Ford Focus, or maybe looking at down-sizing from their family estate car.

Mitsubishi ASX

Most of the models available will be with 2WD with AWC electronicallycontrolled 4WD offered on the 1.8 DiD diesel only. There will be a choice of two engines at the launch in July, namely a 1.6-litre 115bhp petrol engine and a 1.8 DiD 147bhp turbodiesel with a 5-speed manual offered on the petrol model and a 6-speed manual on the diesel.

The ASX also offers excellent emissions and fuel economy with its Automatic Stop & Go, electric power steering, low rolling resistance tyres, regenerative brakes, low viscosity oil, LED lighting and weight reduction measures all contributing.

The performance and technical specifications are below.

Standard equipment is generous with alloy wheels, air conditioning, aux-in-jack, keyless entry, ABS with EBD brake assist, front and side airbags, driver’s knee airbag and tilt and telescopic steering column as standard on all models. Mitsubishi contract hire prices for the ASX should be loaded shortly. The ASX promo can also be viewed on You Tube.

New Cooper Tyre

Cooper Tire has launched a new tyre that promises to be quieter and longer lasting than its predecessor and is aiming it at small to medium sized family cars, such as the Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus, Citroen C4 and BMW 3 Series.

The Cooper Zeon CS2 has the latest “pitch sequencing technology” which allows the tyre to cause less energy to be wasted through friction with the road, yet still providing a strong hold. The broader outer shoulder also gives greater handling in the dry and deep grooves helps stop aqua-planing. The new tyre will available from December and comes in fitments between 13 and 15-inch diameters.

Ford increases market share

Ford increased its market lead in February to 8,084 cars for the year to date after selling 9,915 cars in February, according to SMMT data. The Ford Fiesta takes the number one position with the Ford Focus coming in second place. 

Nigel Sharp, Ford Britain managing director said,”February is traditionally a curtain raiser to the plate change month of March, when Ford customers will benefit from the company’s best-ever vehicle range and its Spring marketing campaign, which establishes lower price points for its most popular models.

Ford’s ongoing freshening of the range will be unrelenting in 2010 with the new Ford S-MAX and Ford Galaxy range appearing in April, the new Ford C-MAX and Ford Grand C-MAX later in the year as well as a number of new engine and transmission introductions.”

Ford Focus

The Ford Focus has been voted the “car of the decade” according to a poll by Auto Trader.

The top five “cars of the decade” according to Auto Trader are as follows

1) Ford Focus

2) Ford Fiesta

3) BMW 3 Series

4) Ford Mondeo

5) Vauxhall Astra

Sat-nav topped the list of extras, the “most value car” was the Fiat Panda, most “green car” was the Toyota Prius and “Best Motoring Personality” was Jeremy Clarkson.