Pirelli recently took its Formula One simulator, designed to replicate a Formula One driver’s grand prix experiences, to Bryn Gwalia County Primary School in Mold, North Wales. The exclusive tyre supplier to the series decided to give eight-year-old Lauryn Robinson, who has been diagnosed with leukaemia, the chance to try out the simulator after watching […]
Car enthusiasts looking for a car that’s big on style and perfect for London’s busiest roads should head for the Regent Street Motor Show on November 2. One of the stars of the day will be the world’s smallest ever production car, the Peel P50, as driven by Jeremy Clarkson on BBC’s Top Gear.
Yokohama has added another high performance PCR to its ranks following the introduction earlier in the year of its leading UHP product, the Advan Sport V105. The Japanese manufacturer has added the latest evolution of its Advan Neova AD08 tyre, a product it describes as its “most aggressive road-going product.” The new version, the Advan Neova AD08R, appears similar externally; however, Yokohama assures its customers that alterations made to the tyre’s compound have resulted in significant improvements to the high levels of grip and response that made its predecessor a tyre of choice for ultra-high performance road and track day use.
Wheelwright private brand Calibre has launched its latest multi-spoke wheel, the Rapide. Designed with timeless elegance in mind, Wheelwright says the wheel puts the looks of much more expensive wheels into a price point more suited to the average enthusiast – the smallest fitments cost £76.
Avon Tyres has launched its new Storm 3D X-M sports-touring bike tyre, manufactured in Britain for the hypersport motorcycle market. The tyre aims to combine the performance of the Storm 3D Ultra tyre with the increased longevity demanded by riders using their bikes more regularly. The tyre will be available from UK dealers in April.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has just completed its largest ever analysis of vehicle ownership in the UK. Tracking buying trends, ownership changes and transport preferences, the study records detail of each of the 35,760,901 cars, vans, trucks, buses and coaches currently on UK roads.
The research into SMMT's Motorparc data unearthed a wealth of statistically important facts, such as the trend towards smaller engines; the growth of low-carbon diesel power and the rise over time of the smallest class of cars, plus MPVs' increasing market share. Alongside this key data that paints a picture of UK motorists' changing relationships with vehicles, a host of intriguing stats came to light, redrawing the map in terms of the nation's motoring preferences.
UK motorists will waste nearly £50 million of fuel this winter by leaving their cars to idle with the engine running in order to defrost them, a new study of regular drivers by Direct Line Car Insurance has discovered.
The fuel wasted equates to over 300 million road miles and would enable someone to drive an average size car more than 13,000 times around the world.
Earlier this year, Dunlop announced the launch of a new European breed of sports tyres with the introduction of its Sport Maxx RT (Racing Technology). This road tyre, which Dunlop says was designed especially for the driving enthusiast, aims to “deliver to the needs of the continent’s most passionate driving aficionados”, motorists who “savour the feeling of being in control of significant horsepower and dream of being in pole position at some of the world’s most prestigious races.”
With Monaco’s street circuit relying almost exclusively on mechanical grip, Pirelli believes it is the ideal territory for its P Zero Red supersoft tyre – which benefits from a rapid warm-up time and is capable of generating very high levels of traction and cornering forces. Pirelli says the tyre will be particularly important during qualifying, which, with so few opportunities to overtake in Monaco, will be more important than usual. Pirelli also says race strategy has a profound effect at Monaco because it is often easier to make up positions in the pits through an effective strategy rather than by passing on the track. Tyre wear and degradation is the lowest seen all season, making a one-stop strategy a distinct possibility for some teams.
The Commercial Vehicle show 2012 will provide Blitz Rotary with the perfect environment to launch their new light capacity HydroLift S2 6.2 Tonne capacity wireless mobile column lifts.
The new lift is an important addition to the comprehensive range of Blitz Rotary commercial vehicle lifting equipment now available, including the very popular, 8.2 tonne capacity wireless mobile column lifts, recently launched at the Coach and bus live show.
The Dyfi and Dyfnant forests in north Wales hosted the Bulldog International Rally of North Wales, supplied by Pirelli’s K6 gravel tyre, over the weekend, where local driver Tom Cave secured his maiden victory at the wheel of a Citroen DS3 R3T. Pirelli said that its K6 control tyre coped well with the unseasonably warm and dry conditions. In other Pirelli news, the company-backed Star Driver, Jukka Korhonen drove his TEG Sport prepared Skoda Fabia R2 with a “measured approach” that rewarded the Finn with his first points finish; he claimed seventh overall and second in class.
At the end of February Dunlop announced the launch of its Sport Maxx Race and Sport Maxx RT products at Spain’s Ascari Race track. Designed to help some of the world’s fastest cars perform, Dunlop says the Race iteration will fit key models such as the Mercedes SLS and C63 AMG Black Series, Audi’s TT RS and R8, the Porsche 911 GT3 and the BMW M5. The RT is aimed at original equipment manufacturers that are introducing 17” and 18” rims ahead of 16”; the Sport Maxx RT is the brand’s attempt to capitalise on the market expansion in these sizes on leading performance brands such as Audi, Maserati, Mini, BMW, Jaguar, and Mercedes AMG.
Leicestershire-based industrial product specialist, SIP Limited is reporting a growing demand for its range of trade and professional propane, diesel and infrared heaters, as garages react to the dropping temperatures. The company singles out its professional diesel/kerosene stainless steel space heaters as a product that has generated the warmest interest.
The government must heed the advice of its own MPs and overhaul its fuel duty policy to avoid doing further damage to the industry and the economy, the Freight Transport Association (FTA) has warned. During a four-hour debate in the House of Commons, Chloe Smith, the Economic Under Secretary to the Treasury, heard how high fuel prices have damaged businesses and communities, restricted economic growth, hurt motorists and stoked inflation and unemployment across the country. MPs told how hauliers and businesses in their constituencies have suffered at the hands of the highest rates of fuel duty in the EU and struggled to remain competitive and solvent, citing evidence from the FTA and other organisations.
During a four-hour debate in the House of Commons, Chloe Smith, the Economic Under Secretary to the Treasury, heard how high fuel prices have damaged businesses and communities, restricted economic growth, hurt motorists and stoked inflation and unemployment across the country. MPs told how hauliers and businesses in their constituencies have suffered at the hands of the highest rates of fuel duty in the EU and struggled to remain competitive and solvent, citing evidence from the FTA and other organisations.
Kumho clearly believes the “wake-up calls” of the last two UK winters will drive demand for a wider range of winter tyres in the market, as it has announced it will supply six patterns for the 2011-2012 season through its distributor Micheldever Tyre Services. With another harsh winter on the horizon, Kumho expects demand for cold weather tyres to top the new heights seen in the past two years, listing tyres suitable for fitment on the smallest cars up to light commercial vehicles.
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