Fans of Renault in Spain won’t believe their luck: Laguna and Espace buyers in the country can now get an electric Twizy thrown in for free.
It’s no secret that Renault have been struggling, and add in a cash-strapped Euro country and you’ll find a very bad market for car sales.
So here’s Renault’s solution. Buy any of its big models, and you get its electric Twizy as well.
In the world of car manufacturing, vehicle makers are constantly trying to cut costs while ensuring quality in their end products.
With that in mind, Ford is developing a virtual factory to simulate its manufacturing process in an attempt to cut costs and improve quality in its real plants by creating and analysing computer simulations of vehicle production.
And then there’s the 3D vehicle simulations – imagine seeing your average Fiesta or Focus in front of you, except it’s not there – with the idea being that these virtual prototypes can help evaluate the way parts are put together.
High fuel costs continue to plague Britain’s motoring community, with nine out of 10 citing escalating petrol prices as their main complaint.
The research by Motors.co.uk showed that fuel costs, surging insurance premiums, badly maintained roads and continuous roadworks are forcing motorists to change their driving habits, reported The Guardian.
The Vauxhall Astra is now available with the firm’s BiTurbo engine which first appeared in the three-door Astra GTC and family Insignia.
The 192bhp performance diesel with 400Nm of torque will be fitted to the five-door hatchback and Sports Tourer estate by the end of the year.
As Vauxhall’s most powerful diesel, both models will reach 60mph in less than eight seconds, with a top speed of 135mph-plus while achieving 55.4mpg and 134g/km CO2. Stop-start technology is also standard.
Car-sharing is often touted as a way to cut costs and be environmentally friendly, with schemes like Streetcar in London offering an alternative to traditional car rental and car ownership.
And now, the States is leading the way after a scheme called RelayRide announced it would introduce remote unlocking, following a partnership with GM subsidiary Onstar which will provide the in-car technology.
A RelayRides user lists their vehicle information on the website, along with times of availability and an hourly rate. Thanks to Onstar, lenders no longer need to be on hand to hand over the keys – the borrower simply texts a code or uses a smartphone app to gain access to the vehicle.
