Cars

Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act found that local councils have spent £1m in removing 13 pop up cycle lanes, pictured, the now-removed cycle lane in High Street Kensington, left. Local residents and motorists have complained about the inconvenience caused by the loss of roadway, pictured top right, traffic on Tooting High Street, and bottom right, a cycle lane in Chelsea.

Young motorists and those who drive for a living could be punished if they have any alcohol in their blood, according to a new government report. A new study published today says England and Wales should slash the legal drink-drive limits for the first time since the 1960s. Researchers warn that the current law is not not enough to deter people from drink driving and say even one tipple is too much for some groups, including those who have just passed their test. The report argues said even one is too many and the law should be reformed to mean people driving with any alcohol in their blood should be punished.

New lanekeeping technology could lead to Britain being the first country in the world to introduce driverless cars as part of a new drive by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps (left). The United Nations granted permission for lane-keeping technology to be developed recently and came into force in Britain on Friday, but is so far limited to only roads where traffic flowing in opposite directions are separated by physical barriers. Additionally, the technology, which is step three in the five needed to see driverless cars on the road, is not currently permitted on roads where pedestrians or cyclists are allowed.

The RAC's annual report on electric vehicle uptake found that demand is marginally higher than a year earlier, with 9 per cent of drivers polled saying their next car will be battery powered. It has urged ministers to improve incentives available to buyers of electric vehicles, calling for the 20% VAT tax to be scrapped or the existing plug-in car grant of £3,000 increased to £4,000 per EV.

Ashwani Gupta (inset), the carmaker's chief operating officer, said he believed the last minute deal would 'redefine' the UK's auto industry. 'Brexit has brought the business continuity in the short-term, protects 75,000 jobs across Europe and most importantly - all of our models which we manufacture in Sunderland (pictured),' he told a news briefing. Speaking from Japan, he said Nissan would continue investing in the UK, stressing the company did not stop investing in the run-up to the UK leaving the EU. The Brexit deal had secured the sustainability of Nissan and improved competitiveness of the giant Sunderland factory, he said.

Volkswagen Netherlands has marked 25 years of the divisive Polo Harlequin by replicating the multi-colour scheme on a brand new version of the compact hatchback. While some loved the eccentric limited-edition mid-nineties supermini, others were less impressed with the hotchpotch of different-tone panels. But fans of the original car are set to be left disappointed.

Classic cars are big businesses, and bidding at auctions for collectible vehicles is ferociously contested among those petrolheads with pockets deep enough to fulfill their four-wheeled desires - even in 2020, when most sales took place online to avoid mass gatherings during the pandemic And, as most of us know, emotional purchases can sometimes result in over-exuberance, hard-headedness and - in some cases - overpaying for items. These are the 10 cars sold at auction with the highest winning bids over the market value of the models. In one case, it saw a Bentley sell for 155% above what experts say it should be worth.

The police officer took the drastic action after spotting the elderly motorist driving the wrong direction along the M1 near Wakefield, in West Yorkshire on Monday night. The officer placed his car in lane three with his lights and sirens blaring to alert all the road users. Fortunately nobody was injured in the incident.

Despite MG Motors' website and brochures previously showing the estate car carrying a bicycle, the brand has since told customers it is not safe to load anything onto the roof rails, else it could 'result in an accident or damage to the vehicle'.

Unsurprisingly, the top 10 councils raking in the most from motorists is dominated by London boroughs, which together collected more than £million in a year. However, we have also listed the local authorities with the biggest parking ticket earnings outside of the capital - and reveal which roads in each area saw drivers stung most commonly.

Mess with an icon at your own peril. And in the world of cars, there are few bigger legends than the Ford Mustang, famed for its appearance in Bullitt with Steve McQueen at the wheel. Taking a legendary car and recreating it for the changing needs, fashions, technology and environmental demands of the 21st century is no mean challenge, not least when you're completely altering the one feature it was most famed for. And this is exactly what Ford bosses have done with the new Mustang, called the Mach-E. They've taken the archetypal American muscle car name and used it for the brand's first purpose-build electric SUV. It means the Mach-E can't disappoint on the road, else face the wrath of fanatics of the blue-oval badge.

Renault said the 5's return is 'the rebirth of a cult car, more modern than ever' and part of its plans 'to reconnect with its past' and 'draw inspiration to find the spirit of those glorious times'. While petrol power will be replaced by a battery and electric motors, many of the iconic styling cues of the ultra-aggressive 5 Turbo hot hatch - a famed rally weapon in the 1980s - will be retained, including the massive flared wheelarches, while some of the other features will be reworked for the benefit of the EV. This includes a bonnet air intake which has been redesigned to hide the charging socket, tower-stacked rear lights that incorporate aero flaps to improve the streamlining of the car for better range efficiency and front fog lamps that act as daytime running lights. Pictured bottom right, Joanna Lumley washing her Renault 5 outside her flat in Holland Park, London. Left, Barbara Carrera drove the car in Never Say Never Again in 1983.

The new model, which arrives in UK showrooms shortly, will cost from £7,995 - a £1,000 hike on the outgoing car - and was commended for being roomy, comfortable, safe and packed with plenty of kit. Some 26 category gongs were announced for winners as part of a week-long awards ceremony taking place online this week, thought it was the Romanian brand's ultra-affordable supermini that scooped the top prize. We've listed the recommendations for each segment so that car buyers can purchase the motor that's best for their needs.

The Chinese electric family car will cost less than half the price of the forthcoming Tesla Model S Plaid that's due to arrive later this year. But there are reasons why Mr Musk shouldn't be too concerned just yet. The ET7 won't be delivered to the earliest of Chinese customers until 2022 - and it is scheduled to come to Europe, though at a so-far undisclosed date. Here's everything we know so far about the futuristic-looking Nio's Tesla-challenging EV unveiled this week.

Welsh company MST Cars, which specialises in spares and parts for Ford's iconic Mk1 and Mk2 Escort rally cars, has revealed its own unofficial continuation version of the second-generation icon. The hand-built reborn motors aren't just for competition purposes - there are fully-fledged road-legal versions available to order. But they don't come cheap, with the new Escort Mk2 priced from £78,000, the car pictured here costing £102,000 - and the most expensive version priced at an excess of £110,000.

The German car giant has outraged motorists with a controversial 'bull***t' online marketing video that critics say mocks its older core baby-boomer customers and denigrates one of the firm's most successful flagship limousines - the classic 7-series. The row follows an earlier BMW controversy in November when the firm's marketing gurus posted a tweet in response to an individual's criticism of the iX's styling on YouTube, denigrating the assumed older customers with the jibe 'OK, boomer' - prompting a huge backlash. Commentators questioned the motive behind the tweet, especially given that baby boomers account for around half of BMWs sales - particularly in the key USA market.

The Aston Martin DB4GT is widely considered by many collectors as the finest post-war road car the Bond-favourite firm produced. It was designed to take on the Ferrari 250 GT SWB and eclipsed rivals with a top speed in excess of 150mph and a 0-to-60mph time of just 6.1 seconds. However, the classic car being auctioned by Bonhams next month is far from perfect current condition. It is being sold as a part-finished restoration job that was started some 37 years ago.

Called the PotholePro, the heavy-duty machine has been revealed ahead of National Pothole Day on Thursday, though has already been undergoing trials in England. JCB says it is the most efficient vehicle of its type, providing the repair capability usually required from three separate machines. That means it not only cuts down on pothole filling costs and duration but also reduces the emissions impact usually involved to fix them. It has already been used in trials in Stoke-On-Trent, where it has been able to fill a crater in the tarmac in less than eight minutes, rapidly accelerating usual repair times.

The male driver, aged 42 and living in England, eventually passed on the 158th attempt, having spent £3,634 on theory tests alone. As for the most blundered practical exams, another male driver eventually passed at the 43rd time of asking, having forked out up to £3,200 on test bookings. The incredible rate of failed motoring exams by Britons has been revealed at a time when learners are again unable to take their theory or practical driving tests due to the latest Covid-19 lockdown.

After a misery-filled 2020 and the threat of new petrol and diesel cars being banned from sale in 2030, this will be the year many will be looking to treat themselves to a new ride. We have listed 21 new cars arriving in 2021, what makes them stand out, how much they will cost and when we expect to start seeing them on our roads. From the £8,000 Dacia Sandero to the £2.4million Mercedes-AMG One hypercar, the choice will be varied in 2021.

The 'stealth cameras' have proliferated because they are deemed crucial to controversial smart motorways. Figures obtained by the Mail showed that more than 253,000 notices of intended prosecution (NIPs) were issued in the 12 months to this autumn by 17 of the 20 police forces whose areas cover smart motorways in England and Wales. The figures - which exclude fines issued by temporary, average speed check cameras - reveal for the first time the extent of speeding penalties issued on motorways.

Volkswagen is set to unleash a R2-D2-like charging robot to re-power electric vehicles via a companion app. The autonomous machine is set to roll out sometime in 2021. The robot tows a battery pack to a parked vehicle, which it prompts to open the charging socket flap, then connects the plug and decouples once charging is complete.

Catalytic converter thefts are prevalent in London, with organised criminals hacking the emissions-reducing devices - which contain expensive precious metals - from the underside of vehicles in broad daylight, and in some cases causing substantial damage the even results in cars being written off. Analysis by Compare the Market has revealed which UK cities are already being hit by the crime-wave, and which locations have seen the greatest increase in catalytic converter thefts in the last year.

The signs use 'Vehicle Detection Technology' that can trigger 'highly personalised, real time content' when a 'handpicked vehicle type is directly in sight of the roadside screen'. The move has sparked outrage among customers and automotive commentators, who have raised concerns about the technology being used.

Laden with gadgets, the collection of £3.3m-a-piece Goldfinger DB5 continuation cars has been photographed for the first - and probably only - time together, just in time for Christmas as first customers prepare to take delivery. Only 25 of the reborn Goldfinger DB5s are being hand-built for customers at the firm's Newport Pagnell factory in Buckinghamshire and none of them will be legal to drive on the road. The exclusive limited customer run continuation cars have been kitted out with gadgets including: battering rams on the front and back; machine guns; a bullet resistant shield; revolving number plates; a smoke machine and a water-propelling oil slick. Tyre shredders will have to be screwed on to complete the look and, although there's a removable roof panel, there is no working ejector seat.

With many choosing to staycation in 2020, appetite for campervans has surged. Vauxhall has launched its own version based on the Luton-built Vivaro (left) - and it's among the most affordable campers you can buy right now. We take a closer look at what it will offer - and how it compares to major rivals already on the market or due to arrive next year, including the VW California, Ford Transit Custom Nugget, Mercedes V-Class Marco Polo and Sussex Campervans Manhattan.

To understand which brands produce the longest-lasting vehicles, What Car? polled almost 13,000 UK drivers about the reliability of their motors - even those that are up to 20 years old. The study rates the manufactures by the volume of faults, with Japanese and Korean makers, including Lexus and Kia, dominating the best performers - and Land Rover unsurprisingly limping behind the pack.

SC20 is a one-of-a-kind special track car built for a customer. It has no roof or windscreen but does have a fire-spitting 759bhp V12 engine, meaning it will be able to hit speeds in excess of 200mph. The bodywork is predominantly carbonfibre and features a massive adjustable carbon rear wing. The spoiler can be set in one of three positions - low, medium and 'high load' - so the driver can adjust just how much downforce they want the car to generate on the move. The lack of glass - or a roof - means it should be fairly lightweight, tipping the scales at less than 1,500kg, which is around the same as a small family hatchback.

The $2.7million, or £2million, US supercar has key parts supplied from Britain and is the first built from scratch to carry the name of the legendary John Hennessey, pictured. With a first car designed and engineered at Silverstone in the UK, ahead of going into production in Texas, only 24 of the new Hennessey Venom F5 cars - inspired by jet fighters - will be built.Powered by a vast 6.6 litre V8 twin-turbo petrol engine called Fury, the new Venom F5 develops an astonishing 1,817 horsepower.

Around four UK forces have already placed orders for the cameras, which cost in the region of £10,000 each. The device can identify a vehicle make, model and number plate and all details captured are uploaded electronically to a database and penalty notices are automatically posted to the vehicle keeper's address, meaning there's no need for officers to stop motorists to issue fines. Footage has also been given the green light to be used as evidence in court. Both Nothumbria Police (top right) and Warwickshire Police (bottom right) have taken delivery of the latest cameras to patrol their roads.

Owners of cars will see their car tax costs rise in-line with the RPI index, usually adding £5 to bills. However, new vehicle buyers will be hit harder, as first-year VED bands will be determined by a new test. According to experts, the more realistic WLTP emission test pushes the average petrol and diesel car's outputs almost 20% higher, meaning models will move into more expensive tax bands. Use our tools and tables to find out how much VED is increasing for you.

If you are a shrinking violet who likes to keep a low profile and hates being the centre of attention, then Citroen's quirky new Ami electric cube car is definitely not for you. Within minutes of getting behind the wheel, the cute back-to-basics zero-emissions city car draws plenty of crowds and gawping onlookers - as we've just discovered, having spent a day driving the teeny vehicle. Here's our full on-the-road report.

The track-only model has been named the Bolide - which Bugatti says is French for 'racing car', though also [worryingly] translates to 'fireball' in Italian - and is powered an 8-litre quad-turbo engine. With the powerplant wound right up, weight shaved to a minimum and racing-car bodywork, it has a whopping 1,825bhp and can lap the Le Mans circuit faster than the current crop of endurance racers. Bugatti's boss described the driving sensation as 'like riding on a cannonball'.

The Bull Market is a list of top 10 classic cars compiled by boffins at Hagerty. It says these are the models that petrol-heads - rather than well-heeled collectors - should be buying next year that are ripe for big future returns but will also be fun to own while their values climb.

The iconic British marque has used Sir Henry 'Tim' Birkin's famed 1929 4½-litre 'Team Blower' car as the template to recreate a limited road-going series of the stunning racer. The first model - dubbed 'Car Zero' - took 40,000 man hours to complete and will be used as the prototype for 12 customer cars, each of which will be faithfully recreated using almost 2,000 hand-crafted components and based on the vehicle's original drawings, tooling and a laser-scanned 3D model of Birkin's 91-year-old competition car. Each customer example will cost from £1.5million - but will not be delivered for at least another two years.

One in three motorists pay over the odds for their car insurance - and the worst thing you can do is simply renew. We reveal ten tips to get the cheapest car insurance deal and show you the places to go to compare car cover and potentially save hundreds of pounds.