HONDAYES: UK

Showing posts with label UK. Show all posts

23 Jan 2014

UK - British Car manufacturing at 6 year high.

UK CAR MANUFACTURING (data for full year 2013)

Car production rose 3.1% in 2013 to surpass 1.5 million units – the highest volume since 2007.
Industry analysts predict output to reach record levels of around two million units by 2017.
UK could become the third largest car manufacturer in Europe.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, "2013 demonstrated the value of the UK’s diverse car manufacturing industry, as surging home demand and robust exports outside Europe saw output grow 3.1% to over 1.5 million units. UK automotive investment announcements exceeded £2.5 billion in 2013, reinforcing industry analysts’ suggestions that the UK could break all-time car output records within the next four years."

Business Secretary Vince Cable said, "Today's figures are another sign that the British car industry is going from strength to strength – with one vehicle rolling off a production line somewhere in the UK every 20 seconds.

"Our success lies in the appetite from countries around the world for British cars. Around 80% of the 1.5 million cars we produced last year were exported – a testament to the diverse, high quality of British manufacturing.

"It also highlights the benefits of industry and government working together and we want to continue this partnership through a long-term strategy. This will give businesses the confidence to invest, speed up development on vehicles of the future and keep the UK as a world leader in cars. Our investment of £1bn jointly with industry will help do this, while also delivering jobs and driving growth."

Since 2009, the variety of cars produced in the UK has been underlined by a marked change in export destinations.
While the European market has struggled with tough economic conditions, overall export volumes have been bolstered by strong growth in demand for UK-built cars in other locations.
China’s share of exports has grown rapidly over recent years, and the country now looks set to become the largest non-EU market for UK-built cars.
Take-up in the United States remained strong last year, and while Russia has seen volumes fall since 2012, it is now firmly established as a key export destination.

About SMMT and UK the automotive industry

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) is one of the largest and most influential trade associations in the UK. It supports the interests of the UK automotive industry at home and abroad, promoting a united position to government, stakeholders and the media.

The automotive industry is a vital part of the UK economy accounting for £59 billion turnover and £12 billion value added. With more than 700,000 jobs dependent on the industry, it accounts for 10% of total UK exports and invests £1.7 billion each year in automotive R&D. More than 30 manufacturers build in excess of 70 models of vehicle in the UK supported by around 2,500 component providers and some of the world's most skilled engineers.

UK - Nissan beats previous sales record with significant increase.

Nissan sold 118,061 cars in the UK in 2013, up 11.5 per cent on 2012
Nissan market share in the UK was 5.2 per cent – sixth biggest brand in the UK
Qashqai sold 50,211 units, up 9.9 per cent, making it UK's sixth best-selling car
Juke sold 37,488 units, up an incredible 29.9 per cent
Sunderland production facility output tops 500,000 for a second year

Sales records have been beaten for another year at Nissan, with 118,061 cars sold in 2013, an increase of 11.5 percent on 2012 – itself a record year. Including LCVs, Nissan sold 128,680 vehicles in the UK, up 11.0 percent from 115,970 in 2012.

Key to these record figures were the performance of two British-built stars: the Juke and Qashqai. Despite the imminent arrival of the second-generation model – which has just arrived in UK showrooms – the Qashqai continued its remarkable success story, notching up 50,211 sales, an incredible 9.9 per cent increase on 2012 and the first time the Qashqai has topped the 50,000 mark. The figures consolidated the Qashqai’s position as the UK’s sixth best-selling car.

The Juke also enjoyed a stellar year, with sales up from 28,862 in 2012 to 37,488 in 2013 – a 29.9 per cent increase. Now in its third year, the British designed and built supermini crossover was boosted by the arrival of a Nismo version that added a sporting edge to the range.

The all-electric LEAF also had a busy year up from 699 sales in 2012 to 1,812 in 2013. As part of Nissan’s growth plan for electric vehicles, European production of a revised LEAF started at Nissan’s Sunderland production facility in April, with the model range growing substantially.

Nissan’s remarkable sales success was set against the backdrop of a record year at Nissan's Sunderland manufacturing facility, which broke the 500,000 unit production barrier for the second year in a row, building an incredible 501,756 vehicles.

NissanLCVs also proved popular with buyers in 2013, with 10,619 light commercial vehicles sold – an increase of 4.7 per cent. The NV200 and Navara were the two biggest sellers, notching up 4,230 and 4,484 sales respectively.

Jim Wright, Managing Director at Nissan GB said: “These figures prove that Nissan is continuing to reap the rewards of hard work and intelligent planning. For the Qashqai to break the 50,000 sales mark in its sixth year of production is testament to its remarkable design and value.

“I’m also immensely proud of our other British success stories, namely the Juke, new Note and LEAF. The Juke’s performance proves that British buyers value bold and innovative design, while the Note and LEAF are welcome additions to the Sunderland stable. To break the 500,000 production barrier for a second year is incredible, especially as the plant has been busy integrating new facilities for new Note and LEAF. With the new Qashqai rolling off the lines, I’m sure that 2014 will be another year to remember.”

14 Jan 2014

UK - At last Subaru sees sense and the WRX STi is BACK and cheaper than before.

Iconic model returns in summer
Improvements to driveability, safety and packaging
Priced at £28,995 OTR

It seems like only yesterday when the last WRX STI was sold in the UK amid an outcry of sentiment on the sad loss of this iconic model. Less than one year on, Subaru UK confirms the new WRX STI is coming to these shores in summer.

The good news for performance car fans around the country is that as a result of the recent movements in exchange rates, the new model will be priced at a highly competitive £28,995 when it hits showrooms in May, some £4,000 cheaper than its predecessor.

Unveiled at the Detroit motor show earlier today (14 January) the new WRX STI is based on the WRX saloon car launched at the LA show in November, but with some significant enhancements.

During development, Subaru honed the driveability of the new WRX STI to perfection, testing it under a wide variety of conditions around the world. As with past generations of the model, extensive testing also took place on Germany's Nürburgring circuit to ensure the WRX STI is the pinnacle of Subaru AWD sports performance.

At its heart is a 2.5 litre turbo-charged Subaru Boxer four-pot engine, which in STI guise, produces 305hp and 290lb/ft of torque. The six-speed gearbox has been reinforced and now adopts even shorter throw and slicker, sportier shift feel.

Subaru’s trademark Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive employs the latest vehicle dynamics control (VDC) and Active Torque Vectoring for maximum control and driver engagement. Spring and damper rates have been meticulously re-tuned to provide a more compliant ride while retaining body composure, and the electronic power steering is now mounted on a more rigid steering gearbox mount for improved fuel efficiency and more ‘direct’ feel and response.

An increase in wheelbase of 25mm gives the new WRX STI greater rear leg room as well as more shoulder and elbow room inside the cabin, without increasing the exterior dimensions. By moving the bottom of the A-pillars forward by 200mm and adding a quarter light to the front window, drivers have better visibility all round. Boot space is increased and ingress and egress are improved with larger door apertures.

A lot of work has also gone into improving the perceived quality of the WRX STI interior. For the new model, highlights include a new D-shaped steering wheel of smaller diameter and designed to give the driver maximum feel. Soft touch materials are used in key areas while new dials and carbon effect and metal trim is also employed to give the STI both a suitably sporty feel and more upmarket ambience.

UK buyers can expect a comprehensive standard spec, in addition to changes over the WRX on the exterior design including the large signature rear wing and larger diameter wheels. At the rear, the diffuser integrated bumper and twin dual mufflers are unmistakably Subaru while new 18in. alloy wheels are designed to be both lighter and more rigid. LED lighting is employed for the headlights, tail and brake lights while ‘STI’ badges are found on the front grille and wings.

This week Subaru UK will be launching a dedicated area of its website (www.subaru.co.uk) where prospective owners can register their interest. Subaru in Japan has confirmed that a Fuji Heavy Industries entered STI will compete in this year’s Nurburgring 24hr race in June, where the team will be attempting to win its class for a third year in succession.

Paul Tunnicliffe, Subaru UK Managing Director commented: “We wanted to acknowledge the following the WRX STI has, and while both the market and the Brand in the UK has changed in recent years, the WRX STI remains a demonstration of Subaru’s technical know-how.

“The new model will only be available in limited numbers when it goes on sale in summer nevertheless we were keen to give our performance car fans the opportunity to try it here for themselves.”

Major specifications:

Length / width / height: 4,595 x 1,795 x 1,475 mm*3

Wheelbase: 2,650 mm

Engine: 2.5 litre Horizontally-Opposed turbo

Displacement: 2,457 cc

Transmission: six-speed manual

Maximum output: 305 hp / 6,000 rpm

Maximum torque: 290 lb.-ft. / 4,000 rpm

Tyre size: 245/40 R18

Seating capacity: 5

Further details of the new WRX STI will be announced in coming weeks.

18 Dec 2013

Captain Simon's RS streamliner on the road

Bubble mail:

"I built a Strange BMW like Sebs"

Update!
Simon send some more information about his nice ride

"I meant to take some decent pictures with my good old Lumix but the damn battery died, bad planning, the old I phone did OK just a bit grainy, hope they're OK
The bike is fun, it was a cheap old RT 1977 I got from a friends shed hadn't run for 10 years or more, I took all the RT stuff off and found it was an early RS underneath, a great historic machine in its way fun, anyway fitted an old yamaha SRX400 seat, aerosol painted the tank, got the dustbin from a friend of Ben Parts, Jake Bowie in London, had to do a pile of work to get it fitting right, re fibre glass the cylinder cutaways, reinforce lots of areas, make mountings etc, paint it, make sidepanels, I had the panniers Enduro Saddlebags for an old R60 sidecar outfit and took some time to make them fit, the exhausts are old Contis from an old Ducati fitted well, rides good, really steady not too nimble but steady, OK in winds, quite a fruity rumbler really, I had a problem early test rides, heavy braking front end dive, mudguard jammed inside fairing console kind of jammed the steering, caused minor concern rectified with a hacksaw and 4 inches off the mudguard...

The road is on the A5 in Snowdonia, Ogwen Valley near Bethesda, it is the old road from London to Holyhead where I live, and finally Dublin via ferry, the first national continuous government funded trunk road built in Britain in around 1840 conect the two capitol cities and all that stuff.....

all good stuff, love the site, the joyous displays keep on coming, fantastic many thanks again

Simon"

Thanks Simon, great beemer in a stunning landscape!