Latest news with #Autocar
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
EV charger installations no longer require planning permission
The UK government will now allow the installation of EV chargers without planning permission from a local authority, regardless of whether it's for private or public use. The move is intended to accelerate the roll-out of EV chargers across the UK, the previous Conservative government having set a target for the installation of 300,000 chargers across the nation by 2030. Installations of private chargers at homes with off-street parking were already exempt from planning permission in most cases. However, the requirement of a green light from local authorities for larger public developments had previously been cited as a key bottleneck in the roll-out of the UK's charging network. Ian Johnston, CEO of charger provider Osprey, last year told Autocar: 'The problem is you've got to go through a process which is under-resourced and takes six to nine months to get planning permission.' The new exemption from obtaining planning permission is likely to make a particular difference in the speed at which large charging 'hubs' can be installed, given that these typically require the installation of supporting infrastructure, such as electrical substations. Lewis Gardiner, Osprey's operations director, today said in a government statement: 'This is a hugely welcome and practical change that will make a real difference on the ground. "Removing the need for planning permission for essential electrical infrastructure like substations across the majority of sites will save months of delays, reduce costs and accelerate the delivery of the rapid charging hubs drivers need.' Lilian Greenwood, minister for the future of roads, added: 'We're cutting down on paperwork to power up the EV revolution so that drivers, businesses and those looking to make the switch will have more charge points to power from and less red tape to deal with." Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for motoring organisation AA, said the move was 'a positive step' that 'will help accelerate installations'. According to charger mapping firm Zap-Map, there were more than 79,000 publicly accessible charge points across the UK at the end of April 2025. This was up from some 73,000 at the end of 2024 and just under 54,000 at the end of 2023. ]]>
Motor 1
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor 1
The Ford Focus ST Reaches the End of the Line
Ford announced earlier this year that it was ending Focus production in Europe this November. That includes the coveted Focus ST, one of the last hot hatchbacks sold with a manual transmission, but your opportunity to order one is dwindling. Ford has filled the order books for ST production in the United Kingdom. Ford UK told Autocar , "There are no new factory orders available for the Focus ST at the moment." That comment suggests the automaker could reopen the order books before production officially wraps six months from now, but there's no way to prevent the inevitable. The Focus and the Focus ST are dead by the end of the year, and the company has no direct successor ready to take its place. The inability to order a new Focus ST in the UK won't prevent you from buying one. The automaker also told the publication that there were around 170 STs unsold in the dealer network. Motor1 reached out to Ford to see if the Focus ST is still available to order elsewhere in Europe. We'll update this story if we hear back. Ford has been killing off its sedans and hatches for the last few years. Mondeo production, which was the Fusion in the US, ended in 2022, two years after Ford pulled the model from American showrooms. The Fiesta died in 2023, and now it's the Focus's time to exit the brand's portfolio, including the fun and enjoyable Focus ST. Here's More Ford News: Here's the 2026 Ford F-150 Lobo Totally Undisguised A Supercharged V-8 Ranger Raptor R Exists, But Not From Ford Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Gallery: 2024 Ford Focus ST Edition 32 Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
IOL News
4 days ago
- Automotive
- IOL News
Don't like the current BMW designs? Worry not, they're all changing soon
BMW Vision Driving Experience concept The BMW Vision Driving Experience concept, following on from the Neue Klasse, previews the company's new front-end styling. Picture: Supplied Image: Supplied BMW's modern designs have been polarising to say the least, with their bold, unashamed and sometimes gargantuan grilles. But for those who are not in favour of the current status quo, there is potentially good news on the horizon. BMW is about to implement a brand new design language across its full line-up of cars and SUVs. You've already seen strong hints of it in the Neue Klasse Concept sedan and its X-badged SUV counterpart. The BMW Neue Klasse X Concept foretells the imminent iX3 replacement. Image: Supplied Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ It's already well known that these design studies will form the basis of a brand new electric car family, built around a new electric-first architecture, and starting with the new 3-Series and iX3 electric models. But now it appears that BMW's internal combustion engined (ICE) line-up will also be remodeled to fit in with the 'Neue Klasse' design theme. Autocar reports that BMW will 'completely overhaul' its current ICE range, starting with a significant facelift for the current 5-Series, but with redesigns and significant updates also scheduled for the rest of the BMW range, from 2 Series to X5 and 7 Series. BMW's design head Adrian van Hoodonk told the UK publication that the updates were necessary as the company didn't want the new-age models to make the current cars appear like previous generation products. 'We will make sure that the form language that we are developing now - and starting this year at the IAA with the first of the Neue Klasse vehicles - will be rolled out over the entire product portfolio, leaving no car behind,' Van Hoodonk told Autocar. 'Of course, it would not be good for us or for our customers if there would be a new type of BMW and a 'classic' type of BMW. We're going to change the look and feel of the BMW brand.'
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Peugeot makes it official: GTi coming back in June but…
Newcomer will make its debut as part of the 24 Hours of Le Mans weekend next month, but is unlikely to return to South Africa. Peugeot has confirmed the revival of the GTi badge, but without any combustion engine input. Image: Peugeot In a development stretching back more than five years, Peugeot has released the first teaser image and video of its first GTi model since the last generation 208 GTi. It is back… Posted on Peugeot France's website and X pages, the blurred depiction provides very little detail, apart from the outline silhouette being similar to that of the current 208. The 14 second video meanwhile gives a slither more hints as pausing it around the four seconds mark, shows what appears to be a fins at the base of the front bumper, suggesting a new type of splitter, a black grille and lower intake and fog lamps on the flanks of the bumper. Despite the clip not naming the GTi moniker by name, the translated caption gives another hint as it reads, 'try to capture the new legend before June 13, 2025'. Essentially the date of the reveal, which happens to be the day before the 93rd running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans where Peugeot will again field a pair of 9X8's in the top-rung Hypercar class, the return of the GTi confirms comments made back in March by Peugeot CEO, Alain Fevey, about the Lion's hot hatch revival. ALSO READ: Peugeot 208 GTi's imminent revival can bring fight to VW Polo GTI 'We've made the decision that Peugeot GTi will be reintroduced. We will start with the 208 and [are] definitely listening to your inputs or what our customers will say as well,' Fevey was quoted by Britain's Autocar as saying. 'We want to continue to nurture the reputation of the brand for driving sensations and the fact that our cars produce particular driving sensations, either as a driver or as someone that is being driven in the car'. … but without combustion fire Reiterating the March announcement, Fevey, in a follow-up with the publication, said the newcomer will only be offered with an electric powertrain, thereby becoming known as the e-208 GTi as it will be based on the standard e-208. A rumour that first emerged in 2020, which alleged the GTi name would only be used in the United Kingdom and the now defunct PSE or Peugeot Sport Engineered (PSE) name everywhere else, e-208 GTi is expected to share its electric hardware with the Abarth 600e and the Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce. Facelifted two years ago, the current e-208 will provide the base for the officially named Peugeot e-208 GTi. Image: Peugeot This means the same e-CMP platform and the 54-kWh battery pack that produces 177 kW in the 600e and 207 kW in the Junior. While likely that the former will be used for the production model, Autocar further states that the e-208 GTi could eventually also serve as a base for a performance version of the Opel Corsa Electric after the Blitz's registering of the GSe moniker earlier this month. More soon Despite it being reported in 2019 that the GTi moniker had been shelved in favour of PSE, its confirmed return is unlikely to include South Africa where past models included the 206 GTi and GTi 180, 207 GTi, 308 GTi and 208 GTi. While official details are still unknown, expect more hints to emerge over the coming weeks two weeks leading up to the 13 June unveiling. NOW READ: Hot Peugeot 208 looks set to keep GTI badge after all
Auto Car
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Car
After 23 years and four generations, the Ford Focus ST is being retired
Hot hatch is removed from Ford's UK price list before Focus production comes to an end in November Around 170 new Focus STs remain in UK dealers, some 30 of which are the Edition model pictured Close The Ford Focus ST has been taken off sale in the UK ahead of production of the hot hatchback ending in November. The Focus ST had been open for orders as recently as April but disappeared from dealer price lists in an update issued on 26 May, despite remaining on Ford's online configurator. It means the Focus can now be had only with the turbocharged and mild-hybridised 1.0-litre three-cylinder Ecoboost engine, with outputs of 123bhp or 153bhp. Trim choices are limited to Active X Edition, ST-Line and ST-Line X Edition. All are set to go in the coming months as Ford winds down Focus production. The company has courted buyers for the plant in Saarlouis, Germany that has housed assembly of every Focus but has yet to find a buyer. Ford has committed to keeping the plant open with 1000 workers (down from a previous 4600) until 2032 if no sale can be made. Ford UK told Autocar: 'There are no new factory orders available for the Focus ST at the moment, but there are around 170 built and unsold currently available within the UK dealer network. This includes 30 of the special ST Edition variant in Azura Blue.' Asked for clarification on whether that wording means Focus ST orders could be taken again before the end of production, Ford suggested that the situation could change but nothing was confirmed. This leaves the door open to the order book reopening if there is a sudden influx of demand, or for a special edition sending the hot hatch into retirement. The disappearance of the Focus ST is representative of a wider market trend, with the traditional mass-market hot hatch having all but died out in recent years. The business case for such cars has been sullied by the shift to more profitable (and ultimately less dynamic) SUVs, as well as tightening fleet emissions regulations that have pushed manufacturers towards EVs and low-emission hybrids. Hyundai pulled its i30 N and smaller i20 N from Europe last year, the Peugeot 308 GTi didn't survive more than a single generation and Toyota has yet to launch the GR Corolla in the UK. Of the hot hatches that live on, many have either spiked in price – the Volkswagen Golf GTI now starts north of £40,000 – or remain strictly limited in number, as is the case for the Honda Civic Type R and Toyota GR Yaris. Indeed, Ford recently turned down the temperature on the Focus ST's smaller sibling, the Puma ST. Its 197bhp 1.5-litre powerplant and manual gearbox were discontinued, leaving only an uprated version of the regular Puma's mild-hybrid 1.0-litre powerplant with 158bhp and an automatic gearbox. This is the only ST model to survive the cull of the past few years. This doesn't spell the end for fast Fords, though: design director Amko Leenarts last year told Autocar that there was 'definitely' a future for the brand's performance cars, referencing the popularity of Formula 1, the Dakar and the World Rally Championship, among others. 'If we're not doing that, we are making the wrong investments,' he said. 'So it's got to transition to our normal car lines globally.' Join our WhatsApp community and be the first to read about the latest news and reviews wowing the car world. Our community is the best, easiest and most direct place to tap into the minds of Autocar, and if you join you'll also be treated to unique WhatsApp content. You can leave at any time after joining - check our full privacy policy here. Next Prev In partnership with
