#BrownCarGuy – News, Views & Reviews!
For years, we’ve been told that driving is becoming safer, smarter, and more regulated, but what if the next phase isn’t about enforcement at all, at least not in the traditional sense, and instead marks a shift towards something far more pervasive, far more subtle, and arguably far more consequential for the everyday motorist?
So, I recently did what many EV evangelists will tell you is absolutely fine, totally normal, and nothing to worry about… I drove an electric vehicle from London to Bristol and back. Now before anyone sharpens their pitchforks or plugs in their keyboards to type an angry comment, let me say this upfront: this is not an anti-EV rant.
I like EVs. I really do. Around town, they’re brilliant – smooth, quiet, effortless, and occasionally smug. But take them out of their natural habitat and onto the open motorway, and suddenly things get… interesting. Let me walk you through what actually happens.
Modern cars are crammed with technology. Screens everywhere, navigation systems that want to talk to you constantly, lane-keeping assistants tugging at the wheel, and warning chimes that make you feel like you’re piloting a passenger jet rather than driving to Tesco. And yet, despite all that technology, there is still one thing many drivers worry about: speed cameras. Enter the OOONO Co-Driver NO2, a small Scandinavian gadget that promises to act like a silent passenger in your car – warning you about speed cameras, road hazards, and traffic issues ahead without distracting you with yet another screen. It’s an interesting idea. But does it actually work? Let’s give it a go!
There are big numbers in the car industry, and then there are numbers that make even hardened executives pause, breathe in sharply, and reach for the nearest spreadsheet. Nineteen point five billion dollars is firmly in the latter category. That is the amount Ford has just written off as it dramatically pulls back from large parts of its electric vehicle strategy, cancelling programmes, binning future models, tearing up battery partnerships and, perhaps most tellingly of all, quietly conceding that the way we were promised the electric future would unfold was always far more fragile than many wanted to admit.
Japanese car companies have always been on the leading edge of engineering. Innovating, developing, breaking new ground – surging ahead of the crowd in surprising new ways. And Suzuki’s latest new car… doesn’t conform to any of that. Well, apart from the ‘surprising’ bit.
Because the new E Vitara isn’t truly Japanese at all. It’s more like a takeaway tikka delivered by a samurai. And given how much Brits love a good curry, Suzuki’s first fully electric car – designed and built by Maruti Suzuki in Gujarat, India – rolling off the boats onto our roads at barely believable prices, is surely going to go down a treat. You won’t even need the Alka-Seltzer for this one.
If you’re planning to buy a car in 2025, whether new or used, you’re stepping into one of the most complex and confusing car markets we’ve ever seen. With skyrocketing prices, a flood of new brands, and an increasingly aggressive push toward electric vehicles (EVs), the choices are overwhelming. But what’s causing this chaos, and how can you navigate it? Let’s break it down based on the latest data from Auto Trader.
In a bold move, Jaguar has ceased all new car sales in the UK as of November 2024, marking the first time since World War II that the storied marque’s vehicles are unavailable in their home market. This decision is part of Jaguar’s strategy to transition to an all-electric lineup by 2026, aiming to reposition itself as a luxury electric brand.
Continue reading “Jaguar Halts New Car Sales”
The UK new car market rose 1.0% in the key ‘74’ plate change month of September, to 275,239 units, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The sales figures were the best since 2020, but still -19.8% off pre-Covid September 2019.
Big Brother – you know, the iconic and voyeuristic reality TV experiment – is back this weekend. I won’t be watching. It was fascinating when it first aired 24 years ago, but now it’s just a tired rehash of a formula that’s been worked to death and beyond. What did catch my attention, though, were the hype-building adverts on ITV, featuring mice in a maze – or rather, in a miniaturised version of the Big Brother house.
Continue reading “Are We Mice in a Maze? “
Lotus is exhibiting its extraordinary Theory 1 concept car at Lotus London in Picadilly opposite Green Park station, along with prototypes of the materials used on the car, as well as the original Lotus Esprit S1 that inspired it, also featuring an original technical drawing of the Esprit and secret spec sheet from 1973! I’m posting this video on Friday 27 September 2024, and the exhibit will remain till Sunday 29 September 2024 – so hurry over this weekend to catch it.
