What’s causing the current global shortage of semiconductor chips? March 25, 2021 The modern world runs on semiconductors; everything from mobile phones to washing machines depends on these tiny microchips. But few industries are so totally dependent on these microprocessors as the automotive sector, as has been proved time and again over the last couple of months. Since the shortage was first flagged at the beginning of [...]
Half of BMW’s sales to be electric by 2030 March 17, 2021 One in every two cars sold by BMW will be a zero emissions vehicle by 2030, the German carmaker predicted today. The plans, which the auto maker set out this morning, are less ambitious than those of some of its rivals. But, chief executive Oliver Zipse said, BMW could speed up its plans if consumer [...]
Jaguar F-Pace SVR review: V8 muscle in an SUV suit March 11, 2021 Jaguar hones its high-performance luxury SUV into something even more beguiling. Let’s enjoy it while we still can, says Richard Aucock.
500 cars and counting: Studio434, Europe’s biggest classic car collection March 9, 2021 Located close to north London, the huge and eclectic Studio 434 collection supplies cars to The Crown, Peaky Blinders, Downton Abbey and more.
Electric cars will lead to a design transformation on the scale of iPhones & Apple laptops March 6, 2021 There was a golden age of car design that ran from the mid 1950’s to early 1970’s. Cars like the Jaguar e-type, Ferrari Dino, or Pontiac Firebird emerged; they were not only engineering miracles, but objets d’art. During this time, the imagination of the auto industry was running wild, setting out ambitious visions of the [...]
Volvo joins race to quit petrol and diesel cars March 2, 2021 Volvo has this morning announced that it will switch to an all-electric range by the end of the decade. The Swedish automaker joins a host of other car makers in announcing a sweeping transition away from petrol and diesel vehicles in recent months. It said that 50 per cent of its global sales should be [...]
Joe Biden’s new Energy Secretary gives us a taste for his plans for a Green New World March 1, 2021 Most people don’t spend their weekdays glued to C-SPAN and coverage of the United States Senate and its committees. Last week, however, the energy and natural resources committee conducted a confirmation hearing for President Biden’s nominee for secretary of energy, Jennifer Granholm. The committee approved Granholm’s nomination, which was then confirmed 65-34 by the whole [...]
US governors urge Biden to pressure semiconductor firms on global shortage of automotive chips February 26, 2021 A bipartisan group of eight governors from U.S. automotive states urged President Joe Biden today to do more to press semiconductor firms to address a global shortage of automotive chips that has cut some vehicle production. Governors of Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Kansas, South Carolina, Alabama and Missouri co-wrote a letter to Biden asking him [...]
Tesla temporarily freezes production at California assembly plant February 25, 2021 Tesla, Elon Musk’s electric vehicle company, has told workers it will temporarily freeze parts of production at its assembly plant in California. Workers on a Model 3 production line in the California-based Fremont factory were told their line would be down from Monday until 7 March, according to Bloomberg. Impacted staff expected to take holiday [...]
Mercedes-AMG A45 S review: the hottest hatchback February 23, 2021 The 421hp Mercedes-AMG A45 S is a five-door hatchback that outpaces some supercars. Tim Pitt spends a week driving it.