Latest news with #VauxhallFrontera
Top Gear
06-08-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Be still thine beating hearts: the long-range Vauxhall Frontera is here for £27,495
Be still thine beating hearts: the long-range Vauxhall Frontera is here for £27,495 Vauxhall fills the reborn Frontera with a bigger battery, gives it 253 miles Skip 5 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures. 1 / 5 As expected, Vauxhall has stuffed its reborn Frontera with a bigger battery and rolled it out for sale. Welcome to the new Frontera Electric Extended Range. In news that'll surely surprise, it's... an electric Frontera offering an extended amount of range over the smaller-batteried one. So where previously you had the choice of a 44kWh Frontera EV with 186 miles, this ER car gets a 54kWh unit offering a heady 253 miles (WLTP). Advertisement - Page continues below Underneath, there's a single front-mounted electric motor producing the same 111bhp as its lesser-batteried sibling, though the additional 67 miles appears to have slowed it down even more. The Frontera already had a very 'relaxed' attitude about getting up to speed. So, 0-62mph now takes 13 full seconds (as opposed to the 44kWh car's 12.8s). Top speed is limited to 88mph. All of this is largely moot of course, because it's a cheap(ish) electric car. Speaking of which, Vauxhall points out its £27,495 starting price limbos underneath the government's new EV grant threshold, and the luxury car tax too. Because… it's not a luxury car. FYI the smaller-batteried variant starts from £23,995. Other versions of the Frontera are available too – a pair of hybrids that match a 1.2-litre three-pot to a small motor, allowing either 99bhp or 134bhp, with prices for those kicking off from £24,255. Advertisement - Page continues below Top Gear Newsletter Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. Success Your Email*
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Is it cheaper to run an electric vehicle or a petrol car?
More people are buying electric vehicles (EVs) than ever before, but the pace of change needs to pick up even further. That's according to the UK's Climate Change Committee (CCC), which advises the government on its net zero emissions targets and said last week that the UK must increase its focus on making electricity cheaper to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. The number of electric cars on UK roads has nearly doubled in the past two years, and nearly one in five new cars sold in 2024 was electric, the chief executive of the CCC told the BBC last week. But that will only pick up even further when falling prices and the cost of running an EV tumble even further, and consumers switch away from petrol engines because it's cheaper to do so. The CCC said that falling electricity prices are critical to making this happen. So, when will road users be better off if they decide to buy an electric vehicle? We asked a number of experts. Taking a wide range of expenses - such as fuel costs, maintenance, depreciation and tax - into account, some EVs can already be cheaper to run than some petrol and diesel cars in the UK. For example, a typical EV (charged during off-peak hours) can travel 50 miles on £1 of electricity – six times further than £1 of petrol will take you, Matt Walters, an EVs expert at fleet management company Ayvens, told Yahoo News. 'Our 2025 Car Cost Index shows that when you look at the full picture – including everything from fuel and maintenance to depreciation and tax – battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are cheaper to run than petrol and diesel cars in the UK," Walters said. 'For example, the total cost of operation (TCO) for a battery electric vehicle comes in at around £982 per month. That's noticeably lower than a petrol car at £1,112 or a diesel at £1,103. "So, while electric cars have higher upfront prices, many have a lower total cost of ownership than their petrol equivalents, making them the cheaper alternative in the long run.' Manufacturers are driving their prices down, thanks not only to government policy but to an influx of cheaper parts. Figures from BloombergNEF show that battery pack prices have fallen markedly in the past decade - from $806 per kw/hr in 2014 to $115 in 2024. And they are expected to drop even further in the coming years.. 'Since the battery is the most expensive part of an EV, falling prices are a key driver in reducing overall vehicle costs, making electric cars more affordable to buy," Walters explains. 'Manufacturers are also starting to match the prices of petrol and hybrid models, with cars like the new Vauxhall Frontera launching below £20,000.' In fact, the CCC predicts that prices for new EVs and petrol cars will reach parity in around two years. Consumers are increasingly buying second-hand EVs, which are already close to drawing even with their petrol vehicles. Demand is booming, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), having risen 58.5% to 65,850 units and a record 3.3% share of all transactions in 2025. Data from car sales site Motorway show that the average prices for EVs and petrol cars sold via the platform (where dealers buy from consumers) are starting to draw very close to each other. 'Used EV prices have continued to soften over recent months. The average sale price for used EVs on our platform has decreased by 10% year on year, from £18,411 in May 2024 to £16,464 in May 2025. This reflects an increase in supply, which, despite strong consumer appetite, is still outpacing demand," Motorway told Yahoo News in a statement. New regulations (Euro 7) will mean all new EVs will have to show battery health, which should mean that people have more confidence in second-hand purchases. "The decline is closing the affordability gap with petrol cars on the second-hand market, making EVs more accessible to a wider range of motorists," Motorway added. "Just a year ago, buyers faced a significant premium to go electric, which posed a serious barrier to adoption. Now, for the majority of consumers who have never bought a brand-new car, their first EV purchase could come from a used-car dealership.' Experts at Webuyanycar believe that electrified cars will make up more than half of new registrations next year. Electrified cars have made steady year-on-year gains, according to Richard Evans, head of technical services at Webuyanycar. "The 2025 and 2026 outlooks signal not just continued electrification, but a maturing market. HEVs [hybrid electric vehicle] and PHEVs [plug-in hybrid electric vehicle] will remain vital stepping stones to all-electric motoring, while petrol and diesel registrations continue to retreat," said Evans. According to Evans, growth across the BEV, PHEV, and HEV segments makes it clear that electric motoring is no longer confined to early adopters. In addition, consumers now benefit from a choice of more than 130 EV models, improved range, better battery technology, and a continuously growing public charger network. "While affordability remains a barrier for some, the arrival of budget-friendly EVs such as the Dacia Spring and Leapmotor 03 (which are approaching price parity with the cheapest ICE cars) could help to unlock the mass market," he says.
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Volkswagen won't revive old names unless cars are "true to genes"
Volkswagen will bring back discontinued names, such as the Scirocco, only if the intended vehicle is 'true to the genes' of the original model. Brand CEO Thomas Schäfer said: 'The Scirocco is a very special model. I can name a few others, but if it doesn't reflect the DNA of the original car in a really strong sense, then [we would] rather give it a new name and do something else.' This approach goes against the market trend of other car makers launching new cars that use names from the past, including the Ford Capri, Ford Explorer and Vauxhall Frontera. In some cases, the public reception to nameplate revivals has not been positive, such as with the Capri. That name, previously used on the famous sports coupé, returned on a C-segment compact crossover last year. Speaking about that car directly, Schäfer said: "See, by the feedback of the consumer, it's a mistake. If you call something what it is not, be very careful. Say, if it's a GTI, it better be a GTI. It's our model. It's got to be true to the genes." As a result, Schäfer insisted that the Scirroco name, for instance, would never be used on an SUV. That nameplate has remained dormant since the third generation of the sports hatch was withdrawn from sale in 2017. However, it could be destined to return. Last year, Autocar reported work was under way to evaluate a potential return for the Scirocco as an electric sports car with a retro, 1970s design inspired by the original car. If it makes production, the Scirocco could be underpinned by a specially adapted version of the PPE platform used by the incoming electric Porsche Boxster and Porsche Cayman. A dual-motor flagship R model with all-wheel drive could also be on the cards. However, such a model would be some way from production. Schäfer said niche and low-volume cars are unlikely be introduced in the foreseeable future, with the car maker instead keeping its line-up "truly core" as it battles financial difficulties. ]]>
The Independent
06-02-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
BYD Atto 2 review: Can this family-friendly EV compete on price?
BYD folk talk about speed a lot. Not the performance on offer from their cars, but the speed with which the company moves. In just two short years, BYD has launched five new cars in the UK, with this – the Atto 2 – the sixth and due to arrive in the UK around September time. It could be beaten to showrooms by the seventh, the small Dolphin Mini, though. So BYD has made the rest of the car industry sit up and take notice, but buyers are a little slower on the uptake. They shouldn't be – the Atto 2 is an excellent car that deserves attention, as long as BYD prices it competitively. With the likes of the all-electric Fiat Grande Panda, Vauxhall Frontera and the capacious Citroen e-C3 and even bigger e-C3 Aircross all offering family-friendly space and all the kit you really need with starting prices in the low £20,000s, those same BYD folk are sticking to their guns with a possible UK starting price for the Atto 2 of around £30,000. Sure, you do get a step up in quality and a big kit upgrade, but it's not as though the advanced battery tech will give you a big jump in range. In our view, an Atto 2 starting at under £30,000 will be much more attractive. In every other respect, the Atto 2 is a winner; it's spacious, looks good (not unlike a Mercedes SUV to our eyes), is well made, drives nicely and has loads of high-tech kit on board. How we tested The BYD Atto 2 is most likely to be used in and around town, so we spent plenty of time driving around the city of Madrid where the roads are as busy and bumpy as they are in cities and towns in the UK. We also went out on the motorway and up in the hills, while testing the space in the front, the back and the boot. Independent rating: 8/10 Pros: Spacious, comfortable, lots of tech and well made Cons: More expensive than rivals Battery, range, charging, performance and drive The cars we drove in Spain came with a 45.1kWh battery that has a claimed maximum range of 194 miles. Given BYD's claims about the high-tech nature of its blade batteries, its third-generation electric car platform and its advanced eight-in-one electrical architecture (which includes numerous efficiency-boosting features including a standard heat pump), we're surprised the Atto 2 doesn't have a longer range or charge faster. The 44kWh battery in the larger and cheaper Citroen e-C3 Aircross will run for a claimed 188 miles. By the time the Atto 2 gets to the UK, the battery pack will have grown to 50kWh, which will probably boost range to around 214 miles. And later in the year, an even bigger battery version will be available (it'll be even more expensive, obviously) with a 60kWh battery likely for a maximum range of 261 miles. The bigger batteries will charge faster than the 45kWh battery in the car we tested, which will charge at up to 65kW on a suitable fast charger – again, this is slower than the 100kW for the Grande Panda, Citroen C3 models and the Vauxhall Frontera. So, the Atto 2 we drove claims a 10 to 80 per cent charging time of 37 minutes. On the road, the Atto 2 is one of the nicest family-friendly EVs we've driven with a very European feel to the way the car rides and handles. Even over the worst bumps, it's never uncomfortable, yet the car feels connected and communicates what's happening on the road surface. Body control is better than on rivals, which means the car will feel less floaty over undulations and is less likely to have you leaning as you drive through corners – which means it'll be less tiring on long journeys. There's also a degree more performance than in some other small EVs, with a decent zero to 62mph time of 7.9 secs. That equates to decent throttle response for nipping in and out of town traffic. Interior, practicality and boot space For a car that's just 4,310mm long – not much more than a supermini these days – there's a huge amount of space inside the Atto 2. When we set up the front seat for a near six-foot tall driver, there was still bags of kneeroom for the same person sitting in the back. The benefit of BYD's blade battery tech means that not only is the floor totally flat throughout the car, but the battery also sits lower, making the rear space seem far more spacious than usual. Headroom isn't a problem, either, even with the standard panoramic sunroof. If we have one slight criticism it's that the rear doors could open slightly wider – it'll be fine for most people to get in and out, but wide opening doors are handy if you have to fit a child into their child seat in the back. As well as that fancy sunroof, powered front seats that are heated and covered in vegan leather are standard on the Atto 2 Boost model that we'll get in the UK. In fact, the general feeling inside is of a little luxury car, not only with the level of standard equipment, but also with the quality of the materials – there are soft-touch materials everywhere and it all looks pretty premium, too. When it comes to luggage space, the boot door opens up high and wide, revealing a 400-litre space with a two-level boot floor – easily big enough for a couple of chunky suitcases. Throw the rear seats forward and that space increases to 1,340. Technology, stereo and infotainment The impressive kit count continues when it comes to tech. It all focuses on the 12.8-inch touchscreen with a particular party piece. Simply say 'Hi BYD, rotate screen' and it will spin round by 90 degrees so you can use it in landscape or portrait mode. Remember us mentioning the speed that BYD works at? After listening to feedback from customers, the Atto 2 now features a customisable 'dock' at the bottom of the screen that allows you to select your most frequently-used functions to display all the time, whether that's to switch off some of the nagging chimes, heat the seats or steering wheel or select navigation. It even displays when you've got your own Apple CarPlay or Android Auto display on the screen – which is wireless, of course. One of our favourite features, though, is the ability to just tap the screen with three fingers to adjust the temperature or fan speed. Or you can just say 'Hi BYD' and give the car a verbal instruction. The good news is that these usability upgrades will be filtered through to other BYD models, while over-the-air updates will keep improving things. Other luxury features include a 360-degree camera to help when parking, fancy LED cabin lighting, wireless smartphone charging and an eight-speaker audio system that sounded pretty decent for a car at around £30,000. There's the usual array of driver assistance systems including handy adaptive cruise control, plus a full array of safety kit, each with their own initialism and probably a warning chime, too. As well as the big central touchscreen, there's a clear digital display in front of the driver, although it's rather crowded with info – it would be nice to have an option to reduce the amount of data it shows. However, one thing that you will enjoy is the ability to use your phone as a key – usually the preserve of much more expensive cars. Using NFC (near field communication) tech, you just wave your phone near the door mirror and the car will unlock for you. You then just have to press the start button in the middle of the centre console. Prices and running costs We'll have to wait until nearer the Atto 2's on sale date, which is expected to be around September, before BYD commits to a price in the UK. In Spain where we drove the Atto 2, the Boost model that we'll get in the UK will cost €31,990 (just under £27,000). However, whispers from within BYD suggest that the Atto 2 may arrive here with a price closer or more likely just above £30,000. For that you do get a car with excellent space, a nice drive, loads of kit and impressive quality. But you can have more space from the still excellent Citroen e-C3 Aircross and pay under £25,000 – and it'll have a similar range, too. BYD Atto 3 rivals FAQs How long does it take to charge? On a fast charger, the Atto 2 will go from 10 to 80 per cent charge in 37 minutes at a charging speed of 65kW – not exactly super fast. How much does it cost - is it worth it? When it arrives in the UK in September, the Atto 2 is expected to cost around £30,000 – a good price for the quality and kit on offer, but you can get family-friendly EVs with more space for less. Does BYD replace batteries for free? The Atto 2's battery is covered for eight years and 150,000 miles, while there's a standard six-year warranty on the rest of the car. The verdict: BYD Atto 2 In most respects, the Atto 2 is a brilliant car that's great to drive with responsive acceleration and a comfortable ride, excellent space for a compact car, a high-quality look and feel, and loads of high-tech kit on board. The sticking point may be a price in the UK that is considerably higher than the latest bunch of family-friendly EVs from other car makers.
