MR BODY WORK

15/12/2016

Car paint: what makes the perfect car colour?

Much like a set of numbers, the choice of car paint colours is theoretically infinite. Colours surround us everywhere and vary in their tones from light to dark, bright to dull. They even influence the way we see and perceive things, as artists for years have used their paint strokes to toy with emotions. It’s probably a surprise, then, to discover over half a million cars in the UK were sold in plain old white last year, making it the most popular car paint colour in the country.

This might lead you to underplay the importance of colour in the automotive industry in the belief it’s merely the last part of the build process, something sprayed on to cover the plain metal of the bodywork.

See full article: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/97350/car-paint-what-makes-the-perfect-car-colour

We speak to the experts at Infiniti’s design studio to find out how they decide which car paint colours to choose

29/11/2016

23/11/2016

Driverless car technology seems to be advancing at breakneck speed - but the changes this will mean for the rules of the road are proceeding at a slower pace.

Now the insurance industries are calling on carmakers to provide more data showing who was at fault in accidents involving driverless vehicles. The insurers say drivers need to be able to prove that they're not at fault if the technology goes wrong.

The Association of British Insurers wants cars to collect a basic set of core data which would be made available after an accident. The data would cover a period 30 seconds before and 15 seconds after any incident. It would include the exact location of the vehicle, whether it was in autonomous mode or under the control of the driver, and whether the motorist was in the driver's seat and had a seatbelt on.

The ABI's Director General Huw Evans says this data "would offer public reassurance by protecting motorists from being incorrectly blamed if something fails with their car, helping police investigations and supporting prompt insurance payouts."

See full article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-38058600

The insurance industry wants more information on accidents involving driverless vehicles to determine who was at fault.

25/10/2016

Best electric cars: 2016's top EVs

Electric cars are becoming more and more viable as a form of everyday transport these days. Many mainstream carmakers now offer an electric model, or are actively developing one.

Several of the latest car models offer all-electric ranges in the hundreds of miles, meaning that most motorists will find that EVs now are likely to meet all their commuting needs. The electric car technology is improving at a rapid pace with better electric cars appearing every year. The UK's charging network is also now expanding, making it easier to top up your electric car on the go.

The market for electric cars is becoming fairly diverse. Luxury saloon cars, small city cars and even SUVs powered by electric engines are currently on sale and the great news is that buyers get £4,500 from the government towards the purchase of their new electric vehicle.

See full article: http://www.theweek.co.uk/69705/best-electric-cars-2016s-top-evs

There's a variety of options available if you're looking to change your vehicle. Here are our choices

20/10/2016

Drivers with medical conditions kept off the road by the DVLA

Some drivers are required to wait for few years to get their licence back after declaring a medical condition to the DVLA, according to latest reports.

Motorists with medical conditions are claiming to be unfairly prevented from driving for years by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), a latest investigation has found.

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman began investigating the DVLA after it received several complaints from people who declared a medical condition then waited for years to get their drivers licence back after being declared fit to drive.

All of the complaints were directed at the Drivers Medical Group (DMG), the DVLA’s arm that is determining whether a driver with a medical condition is safe to drive a vehicle. The DMG makes between 600,00 and 750,000 driver licensing decisions a year, with 10 per cent requiring the expertise of medical experts.

See full article: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/consumer-news/97441/drivers-with-medical-conditions-kept-off-the-road-by-the-dvla

Some drivers have to wait for years to get their licence back after declaring a medical condition to the DVLA, a new report finds

13/10/2016

When is Jeremy Clarkson's The Grand Tour on Amazon Prime? Plus, how to get tickets for the live filming?

With the first series of Top Gear receiving a mixed response (causing Chris Evans to step down as its lead presenter), many will be looking forward to watch the new how show starting soon on Amazon Prime.

It's called The Grand Tour and will be presented by a certain Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond.

The trio signed with the online streaming service in July 2015 after the BBC decided not to renew Clarkson's contract following his "fracas" with producer Oisin Tymon.

However, it's only more recently that details of the new show have started to emerge. Fasten your seat belts - here's what we know so far.

See full article: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/on-demand/0/the-grand-tour-on-amazon-prime-what-will-jeremy-clarksons-new-sh/

All the latest news and rumours from Jeremy Clarkson's new Amazon Prime car show - The Grand Tour

13/10/2016

Finding a reliable mechanic

Laila Benfaida is a Trading Standards Officer for Hampshire County Council. We asked her how to find a good reliable mechanic and what to do if you get stung by a cowboy one.

Do your homework - There are many forum sites with car owners' clubs online that'll give an idea of the likely cause of faults if you search the symptoms. Having a knowledge of possible faults and knowing the relevant terminology might help you protect your self from someone taking advantage and will also enable you to get a realistic gauge on potential costs of repairs.

Get quotes - Prices vary and change dramatically. If you know what the fault is it's important to get several estimates. Weigh up parts against labour and parts cost...

See full article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2PpCKl15m33WlGsNhYYthqs/finding-a-reliable-mechanic

bbc, watchdog, consumer advice, mechanics, garages, car maintenance, rogue traders, laila benfaida, trading standards, buy with confidence

28/09/2016

UK car success under threat from Brexit, says industry.

Strongest British car manufacturing companies and figures are all very well, say UK car manufacturers, but they don’t mean expected challenges presented by Brexit are over.

“Recent headlines have suggested that Brexit is no problem,” Hawes told an audience of industry leaders that included Minister for International Trade, Mark Garnier. “Even our own figures around one million cars exported so far this year - paint a picture of a strong and vibrant industry that will not stop.

See full article: http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/uk-car-success-under-threat-brexit-says-industry

18/09/2016